Chapter Twenty Eight

Me? Jealous?! The nerve of that guy!

Khushi was infuriated, nonstop thinking of her encounter with Arnav. After she arrived home and gave her mother the news of her being the lead, Kinjal was ecstatic and prepared something special for her. Khushi was waiting up in her room and finishing up her assignments, while being distracted with those thoughts.

Well... are you, a soft voice asked from inside.

Khushi pushed it away. No.

But the voice came back. Are you sure?

Khushi growled.

Oh she's jealous alright, a snarky voice replied.

Hush it, you, Khushi replied.

I am you so you hush.

Khushi groaned in frustration and put her head down on the table. She turned her head to the side and dazed off, staring at the wall.

What is Arnav up to, she wondered. He's saying stuff that makes it seem like he really is innocent. But he can't be! I mean she walked out of his apartment trying to fix her dress! 

Yeah, but she's a bitch, the snarky one said.

I agree, the soft voice said.

Khushi shook her head clear. Ever since freshman year, Anisha always had something against me. At first I didn't get it, but then Lavanya told me. But why?

Khushi shut her eyes and reflected back to freshman year. She remembered Anisha's party and the classes she had with her. One thing she kept finding in common with all the flashbacks were of how she kept trying to flirt with Arnav, but Arnav never gave her the time of day. In fact, Arnav was the only one who didn't fall and kiss her feet.

Khushi's eyes shot open. Does it have to do with Arnav?

Arnav and her would always chill together back then, and usually when Anisha came around him, Khushi was always there. Arnav would be nice, but it would be obvious that he was trying to brush Anisha away, though she never got the memo. In the end, he'd walk away with Khushi... usually with his arm around her.

Khushi gasped. Did that tick Anisha off? That Arnav and I were close? Well we're- were, best friends. I mean he would always put his arm around my shoulder so... no. He'd mostly put his arm around me when she was around. But....

Khushi got up and stood by her window, crossing her arms.

Arnav said he'd get his "love back", meaning me. So.... Did he like me all these years? While I always wondered how I could get him to have feelings for me the way I do- did?

Khushi bit her nails.

Something's not right. And I smell a rat!

Kinjal knocked on her door and came in. "Sweetie, come on down."

Khushi looked at her. "Yes Momma."

Kinjal smiled and and she headed back downstairs. Khushi turned back to the window and ran her finger over her bottom lip.

Could it be that Arnav is innocent? But Anisha had the whole year to herself while I was gone, which meant she cudda gotten lucky or something with Arnav. Is that what happened then? Did she finally manage to get to Arnav? He no longer had me as an escape route.

Or maybe... maybe she didn't. Maybe she didn't get to him. But then what Lavanya saw... there's more to this. There's more than what Lavanya saw. And what that is will determine whether or not Arnav truly is innocent. 

Khushi went to her phone and pressed the button, her phone coming to life, showing a picture of Arnav.

Yes, even after everything, he was still her background on her phone. She couldn't get herself to remove it.

"I'm gonna find out what really happen," she said aloud. "And you better not be lying about your innocence Arnav. It'll only break me more."

*~*

"Alright everyone, gather around," Professor Saniya said.

It was the first gathering since the group was determined. Everyone had arrived on time and huddled around Sani. Khushi was ready to get right down to work, but she was enjoying Anisha seething. See, when Anisha had arrived, all the guys that were there were gaping at her, not that she cared so much. She was waiting for Arnav to arrive, but when he did, he didn't even look at her, busy stretching. It bothered her and just as she was about to go up to him to say hi, Khushi came walking in, and all the guys shifted to her. They were stunned by Khushi's lean figure and her curvy curves. That irritated Anisha and she and her dupes got no attention after that.

"For the competition," Sani began, "you will all be performing to The Disco Song from the Student of the Year movie. Got it?"

Everyone nodded.

"Alright. Let's get down to work."

Sani taught them some of the choreography and they all caught on. Arnav could see how much Khushi was into it, as well as how much she was enjoying it. There was a smile playing on her lips and for a moment, Arnav felt that the old Khushi was back.

Beloved... why'd you change, Arnav wondered. Are you really that angry?

Sani let the others take a short break and she had Arnav and Khushi practice their solo. Anisha watched and she fumed. She hated seeing Khushi with Arnav. She couldn't stand it!

"Jealous?"

Anisha turned and saw Lavanya smirking at her.

Anisha smirked. "Why would I be? It's such a small thing in comparison to what I've done with him."

Lavanya's eyes narrowed and Anisha smirked.

"Oh yeah, I forgot to thank you," she continued. "You told her for me and she finally knew. She's so dumb, she couldn't understand what I meant when I kept giving her looks."

Lavanya tilted her head. "I may have told her, but now I get the feeling I'm wrong."

Anisha scrunched her eyebrows. "What?"

Lavanya saw a hint of nervousness in her eyes and she knew she was right. She walked right up to Anisha and stood before her face.

"Watch out, barbie doll," Lavanya said, and she walked away.

She went back to Aman and Anisha huffed, flaring her nostrils.

The professor called them back and had Arnav and Khushi take a break. As Khushi walked back to her stuff, she saw Lavanya and Anisha glaring at each other.

What happened between them, she wondered.

Khushi went to her bag and drank some water. She was checking her phone, when her bladder began to call, so she headed out to the bathroom. On her way, she saw Arnav posting something on the wall, some papers in hand. He left and being curious, Khushi went to check it out. She saw that it was a flyer about a party at that club.

A masquerade party, she wondered. That's interesting.

Khushi glanced down the hall Arnav went down, but didn't see him. She looked back at the flyer and took it down.

It looks interesting. I wonder how it's gonna be at the sex club. It should be interesting.

"Interested in going?"

Khushi gasped and spun around to see Arnav. He leaned in closer to her and placed his arm against the wall, trapping her with his body. Khushi looked down to the side while he looked at her.

"It caught my interest," Khushi simply said.

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

Arnav smirked lightly. "I'd love to see you there."

Khushi looked at him. "You wouldn't see me there."

Arnav tilted his head. "So are you deciding not to go?"

"Depends."

Arnav cocked an eyebrow.

"Besides, you wouldn't even know if I was even there. It's a masquerade event. That means masks."

Arnav looked down and grinned, then looked back up at her. Khushi gasped. She could see something form in Arnav's eyes.

"Maybe," he said. "But I'd know its you."

"O-oh? And how's that?"

Shit, I stuttered, Khushi exclaimed.

Arnav smirked. "I'd know if you were there, even if the rest of the world was present."

Khushi's eyebrows shot up. "Oh?"

Arnav brought his face closer to her and Khushi held her breath. His face was very close to hers and her eyes were stuck on his lips.

"I'd know if you were there. Even with a mask on. I know those pretty eyes of yours."

Khushi's eyes shot up to his.

"And I definitely know those lips of yours." He leaned in closer. "I've been gazing at them for years."

Khushi gasped.

Arnav came in closer and Khushi shut her eyes. She felt his lips graze her cheek and trail below her ear.

"I would know Khushi," he whispered.

Khushi shuddered.

"I would feel your presence like I always do."

Khushi held her breath.

"I would know because I love you."

Khushi's eyes shot open. Arnav nipped her earlobe and Khushi's eyes shut again, her letting out a tiny moan. She felt Arnav grinning against her and then she felt him pull away. When she opened her eyes, she found his face before her.

"I love you Khushi, my Beloved. I always have."

Khushi blinked.

"And I know you still love me."

Khushi's eyes widened.

By the look on her face, Arnav knew he had her. As hard as it was, it was necessary, so he pulled away.

"Regardless of what you believe, you still love me." Arnav said as he stepped back. "And it's because deep down, you know that what Lavanya told you, is a lie."

Arnav turned and walked away to put up the rest of the fliers, leaving a shocked Khushi behind. It took her a few seconds before she regained her stance. She brought her hand up to her ear and she could still feel Arnav's nibble. Without another thought, she went rushing to the bathroom, leaving her wits scattered across the floor.

Little did Arnav and Khushi know that they had an audience. Anisha had come out and Lavanya had come following behind her to give her a piece of her mind, cause Anisha kept on purposely bumping into her to throw her off. As soon as the two came out, they both saw what had just happened between Arnav and Khushi. Lavanya saw Anisha seething and she couldn't help but to smirk.

Lavanya walked up to Anisha and stood beside her. "If Arnav really is innocent then you better watch your ass..."

Anisha looked at her and Lavanya turned and smirked at her.

"... cause Khushi is gonna totally take out all the padding you stuff in there."

Anisha gaped and Lavanya chuckled as she walked back into the classroom. Anisha stood there, fuming and huffing.

Arnav is mine, she exclaimed in her head. And I will not let that low class Khushi take him from me.

Boy was this girl clueless about everything.