Chapter Twenty Five

"Tell me what happened," Khushi said.

Lavanya just looked at her.

"Tell me Lavanya!"

Lavanya gulped, took a sip of water and then sighed. "No one else knew about Arnav coming to this place besides Aman and I. Unfortunately, someone found out."

"You mentioned that, but who?"

Lavanya looked at her. "Anisha."

"Anisha?!" I knew she was involved with this, she exclaimed in her head.

Lavanya nodded. "She somehow found out, managed to get in and she saw Arnav was here."

"So what happened?"

"The night Anisha came, there was another event going on like today. Arnav had one drink too many and...."

"And?"

"I was already here, waiting for Aman to arrive. I was just glancing around when I saw Arnav wasn't where I last saw him, which was at the bar."

"Where'd he go?"

"I didn't know at the time. I looked around the floor for him but I couldn't find him. And that's when I realized that I couldn't see Anisha anywhere either."

"Then?"

"I didn't focus on her and I asked around if anyone had seen Arnav. The bartender told me he thought he heard Arnav mentioning that he was headed upstairs to his apartment, so I went upstairs to the guard. He told me he did come up, was slightly drunk, and that...."

"That...?"

"... he had a girl with him."

Khushi's eyes slightly widened. "Then?"

"I rushed upstairs and when I got up to his floor, I saw Anisha coming out of his apartment, fixing her dress strap cause it was hanging off her shoulder, her dress wrinkled..."

Khushi's eyes were fully wide.

"... and Arnav was totally bare chested and the button of his dress pants were undone," Lavanya whispered.

Khushi couldn't believe what she was hearing. "What," she asked in disbelief.

Lavanya looked down and shook her head. "She walked out and as she passed me, she gave me a smirk and a wink, and I had looked back at Arnav, completely disgusted. How could he....?" She looked away.

"So they... they did it," Khushi asked in a small voice.

Lavanya looked at her best friend to see her eyes pooling with tears. "Khushi-"

Khushi stood up and walked away, heading towards the bathroom, following the signs on the wall. Lavanya called out to her and followed her in, seeing her in full-out tears when she reached her. Khushi had her hands on the marble counter as the tears fell. She couldn't believe what she had just heard.

How could he do that, she wondered. How could he hide this from me? How...?

Khushi cried and Lavanya held her to support her.

Why did he act the way he did with me? Why did he have to be sweet for? Why did my heart want to have him? Why?!

Lavanya patted Khushi's back, calming her. Khushi calmed down and washed up. She fixed up her makeup and took a deep breath.

"Can we leave," she asked.

Lavanya nodded. "Sure."

The two of them headed out of the bathroom and were about to leave when the waiter called out to them.

"Miss, Sir just went upstairs, " he said, and walked away.

Lavanya nodded and was ready to leave, but Khushi stood in place.

"Take me upstairs to him," Khushi said.

Lavanya scrunched her eyebrows. "What?"

"Take. Me. To. Him."

Lavanya looked away, debating on her options, and then at her. "Fine."

She led Khushi down another hallway to some elevators. She called the elevator and when it arrived, she pressed on the 7th floor. The elevator went up and dinged once they arrived. Khushi followed Lavanya out and she pointed up ahead.

"That's his apartment," Lavanya said.

Khushi nodded. "I'll go - it'll be quick."

Lavanya nodded.

Khushi walked forward and rang the doorbell. It took a few minutes until the locks unlocked. The door opened, revealing a shirtless Arnav.

"Hey-"

But his greeting cut short at the sight of Khushi.

"Khushi, what are you-?"

"Expecting someone else?"

"Actually, yeah I am..."

Khushi looked Arnav up and down, taking in his state: shirtless, wearing dress pants, and barefoot.

"... but why are you-?"

Before Arnav could even finish his sentence, Khushi slapped him across the face. Lavanya gasped and covered her mouth, her eyes shooting wide. Arnav was shocked, holding his abused left cheek. He looked up at Khushi and saw how pissed she was, tears threatening to fall.

"Khushi why-?"

And that's when he noticed Lavanya standing by the elevators.

He looked back at Khushi. "Don't tell me she told you what she saw."

"How long did you think you could hide it from me," Khushi practically whispered.

"Khushi it's not-"

"I can't believe you! I can't believe you'd do something like that! I can't believe you're at a place like this!!"

"Khushi listen to me-"

"No! No I will not listen to you! I can't believe you're like this! You're not the same guy I met 2 years ago!"

"Khushi-"

"I hate you!"

Arnav's eyes widened. "What?"

"I hate you Arnav! I can't believe I loved a guy like you!"

Arnav's jaws slacked. "You... you love me?"

Khushi wiped her tears away. "It's my fault for melting into your words. I should've realized how much of a bullshitter you are!"

"Khushi please-"

"Fuck you Arnav!!! I hate you!!!"

With a huff, Khushi turned away and went to Lavanya. Lavanya called for the elevator and as Khushi joined her, the elevator arrived. Both got on and left, leaving a frozen and stunned Arnav behind.

Chapter Twenty Four

Khushi was entirely puzzled as she got ready. She couldn't understand why Lavanya was having her go to a party at some club.

Could it be that Arnav is there, she wondered.

Lavanya came in, dressed up in one of Khushi's dresses. "You ready?"

Khushi nodded. "Yeah," she said, looking at her reflection, brushing the hem of her dress:

"Good. Now let's go."

*~*

Khushi looked in wonder as she pulled up to the club's parking lot. The lot was filled with people, talking away, flirting, or making out. One thing that went through Khushi's head was the look of their attire. While the women looked sexy in their dresses, the men looked official. All suited up and in their ties, they looked like they were here for business.

"La, where have you brought me," Khushi asked.

Lavanya had already stepped out of the car. "You'll see once we get inside."

Khushi got out of the car and followed behind Lavanya. When they got to the front of the club, Khushi was shocked by the massive line of people. Khushi was about to go towards the back of the line, but Lavanya walked right past it.

"La where are you-?"

"Just follow me," she simply said.

Khushi scrunched her eyebrows and followed Lavanya all the way to the front.

"La, what are you-?"

"Hey, we're friends of Arnav's, " Lavanya said to the beefy bouncer guy. "You prolly remember me from that other night?"

The bouncer nodded and let them in. 

Khushi looked at Lavanya confusedly as she followed her in. "You've been here before? And that guy knows Arnav? But how-?"

"You'll see."

Khushi looked around and saw people lingering around. It was calm here, but Khushi could hear the soft thump of the loud music that was coming behind dark, wooden double doors. Lavanya opened them and the two were transported to another world. Music was blasted and there were herds of people. Khushi couldn't believe the number of people that were here.

Lavanya walked in and Khushi followed. They walked around and Khushi was confused as to where they were going. They weren't going to the dance floor, nor the DJ booth, nor the bar.

"La, where are we-?"

Lavanya headed to some stairs and Khushi followed on up. When they got to the top, there was a man standing there by a podium, blocking their way with a velvet rope.

"VIP only," he stated.

"We're friends of Arnav's," Lavanya said. "I was here before - the name is Lavanya."

The guy nodded and looked at the tablet he had resting on the podium. He went through it and nodded, then looked at them. "I need her name," he said, nodding at Khushi.

"Khushi Kumari Gupta," Khushi replied.

He typed it in then took a picture of her. "In case of any frauds," he said seeing Khushi's confusion.

Khushi nodded in acknowledgement. Wow, she said in her head. Tight security.

The guy unhooked the velvet rope and let them in. There were red velvet drapes up ahead, hiding the pathway to another part of the club.

"What's over there," Khushi asked.

"You'll see," Lavanya replied.

Going through the drapes and down the hallway, they entered another part of the club. There were people here, but it wasn't hectic like it was downstairs. They were all engaged in activities and activities - and by activities I mean people were being very intimate here.

Khushi was glancing around the room when she saw a guy tracing his hand up a woman's leg and under her dress. Khushi looked away instantly, her eyes wide.

Where did she bring me?

She heard the woman moan and glanced back to see the man's hand still under her dress, moving.

Khushi looked away instantly. Where the hell did she bring me?!

The room was filled with soft moans and Khushi was red in embarrassment. She continued to follow Lavanya, until they sat down at a booth, Lavanya sitting across from Khushi. A waiter came and asked them what they would like to drink.

"Just water, please," Khushi replied.

"Same," Lavanya smiled lightly.

The waiter nodded and went to get them their drinks. Once he left, Khushi burst on Lavanya.

"Where the hell did you bring me?"

Lavanya glanced around the room. "Did you see how the people up here were acting when we walked over here?"

"I heard more than I saw."

"What did you hear?"

Khushi glanced at the couple. "Her moaning."

Lavanya glanced at the couple and saw how the woman was leaning against the man, her head resting on his shoulder as she breathed harshly and gasped and moaned.

She looked back at her. "Khushi, do you understand what's going on here?"

Khushi scrunched her eyebrows. "No."

"Then look around the room."

Khushi did as Lavanya said. She saw another couple flirting in the corner and saw three people in another a corner, two men and a woman in between them, the men flirting with her. She saw others in similar situations and it was all confusing.

"What is this place?"

"It's a sex club, Khushi."

Khushi looked at Lavanya with wide eyes. "What?!"

"It's. A. Sex. Club."

Khushi just blinked and looked at the people. The first couple she saw was still in the same position, only the girl was moaning louder. The other couple she saw was rather too intimate, the girl holding onto the guy, legs wrapped around him, and he held her in his arms, kissing fiercely. As for the trio? The girl was feeling both the guys up, her hands going in places that had Khushi flushing.

"Holy crap, why did you bring me here?!"

"I told you Khushi - Arnav isn't the same person that you knew."

Khushi paused for a moment. Every time they went through guards, Lavanya had told them that they were friends of Arnav's, even just now. Which means....

"Arnav is here," Khushi asked in disbelief.

"Most likely since there's that party going on downstairs."

"But how... why...?"

The waiter came with their water and set it down in front of them, and turned to leave.

"Excuse me," Lavanya called out to the waiter.

He turned back. "Yes Miss?"

"Where's Arnav?"

"I believe Sir is downstairs at the party. He came down from his room once and got a drink and then headed downstairs."

"Okay, thanks."

He bowed and went back to work.

"Wait, he has a room here," Khushi asked.

"It's an apartment that he has upstairs above the club. He stays there now and then."

Khushi blinked. "How do you know all of this?"

Lavanya looked down.

"Tell me."

"I had heard from Aman on how Arnav had been talking about this place earlier last year. It was when we had just started talking. When I found out more about it, I came one night to investigate. Arnav saw me and told me not to say anything, so I didn't. But...."

"But what?"

"Somehow a certain someone found out and I ended up coming here once more and...."

"And that's when it happened," Khushi finished.

Lavanya looked up at her. "You know?"

Khushi nodded. "I overheard you and Arnav talking about it at the beginning if the semester. But what it is - I have no clue."

Lavanya took a sip of her water. "Well I have a feeling you'll find out tonight."

Chapter Twenty Three

*On*Off*On*Off*

Khushi played with her lamp, turning it on and turning it off. Ever since she had gotten home, all she could think about was of Arnav's and Lavanya's conversation.

"How much longer are you gonna hide it Arnav? You can't keep hiding it from her."

Khushi sat up and stopped fiddling with the lamp.

"There's nothing to hide."

"Then why aren't you telling her what happened?"

Khushi tapped her index finger on her lips.

"Regardless on whether or not if I open my mouth, shit will go down, Arnav."

"No it won't."

"Yes it will. Be it me who tells her or you - problems will arise."

Khushi got up and walked out of her room. She walked around, her arms crossed, mind wandering away.

What are they hiding from me, she wondered.

Khushi walked down and went to the patio.

What could it be? 

The wind blew softly and Khushi shut her eyes. She let it consume her and let her body become light as air. She cleared her head of all her questions, letting her mind be free.

It was at that instant that her head produced an image of earlier in the day, when Anisha had waved at her. She saw that and her mind repeated Arnav's and Lavanya's conversation.

Khushi's eyes popped open immediately.

Why am I visualizing that? What does it-? Wait - could these two things be related?

Khushi thought about it for a moment. She shut her eyes once more and the visual played again, as well as the conversation.

They are, aren't they? They must be! But... but how?

Khushi paced back and forth for a moment.

Wait. She paused in her tracks. What if it isn't? I'm just guessing it is. But then why...?

Khushi was flustered.

I have to keep watch of these three. It's the only way I'll know whether or not if my hunch is true.

*~*

For the next few weeks, Khushi kept her eyes and ears open on the three. Arnav was his usual self, as well as Lavanya, but when they were in the same room together? There was nothing but awkwardness.

As for Anisha, well, she was still Anisha. The only odd thing was that whenever Khushi was around, she'd keep giving Khushi that tiny smirk. Khushi felt totally weird about it, no doubt, but it only added on to her hunch.

*~*

Unfortunately for Khushi, her little detective business had to shut down because her mindset shifted and focused onto midterms and finals. In the blink of an eye, those days arrived and soon enough, the semester was over. Winter break had begun and there was no more stress from school's side.

One day, Lavanya came over to chill. Ever since she hooked up with Aman, she barely got to spend time with Khushi and it totally sucked. So they decided to hang out, staying up in Khushi's room, chilling on the floor.

"Where's Aman," Khushi asked.

"He decided to go back home to spend time with his family after being, as he said, blackmailed, by his mother."

Khushi chuckled. "Blackmail?"

Lavanya nodded. "Honestly, he's crazy," she said, shaking her head.

Since Khushi hadn't gotten a chance to do much of a search during the semester, Khushi decided that she would have to take charge now.

"So what's up with you and Arnav?"

Lavanya's eyes had slightly widened, but Khushi had caught it, even though Lavanya tried to hide it.

"Well," she pushed forward.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean what's with you two and the solid ice barrier?"

"I-I dunno what you're talking about."

"Then why are you stuttering," Khushi asked, looking her straight in the eyes.

"Khushi-"

"Don't shit with me Lavanya."

Lavanya gulped. When Khushi spoke like this, she meant business and there really was no shitting her now.

"Spill it," Khushi said through her teeth.

Lavanya looked away and sighed. "It's more of something to show than to say."

Khushi scrunched her eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

Lavanya looked back at Khushi. "Arnav's changed Khushi. He's not the same guy."

"What do you mean? He's still the same as he was freshman year."

"To the eye, yes. But look in a bit closer and then you'll know."

"What? Stop talking in riddles and be clear La."

Lavanya stood up. "Then get up and go get ready - we're gonna go to a party."

Khushi stood up, totally confused. "A party? What-?"

"You'll see once we get there."

"What? La, you're not making any sense!"

Lavanya held Khushi's shoulders. "Just do as I say Khushi. Once we get there, you'll find out about everything you missed last year. Okay?"

Khushi simply nodded. "Fine."

"Good. Now go find a kick-ass, sexy black dress - we're going to a club."