Chapter Twenty Seven

Khushi's jaw slacked and her eyes widened. Arnav looked at her one last time before leaving. Khushi glanced side to side and shut the door. She leaned against it and slid down the door, confusion clouding her head. Kinjal came back and looked at her daughter. Khushi only looked straight forward and was lost in thought.

He loves me, Khushi wondered.

Kinjal came beside her daughter. "Khushi?"

But Khushi only stood up and went back to her room. She went back to the window and stared out of it. Kinjal had followed her up and sat across from her.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong," Kinjal asked softly.

Khushi bit the inside of her lip. "I can't tell you."

"Why?"

Khushi didn't say anything for moment. Kinjal just looked at her hoping for an answer.

"I don't wanna talk about it," Khushi finally said.

Kinjal sighed and placed her hand on her daughter's knee. "If you keep this up, you'll fall sick."

"It's nothing worse than what I feel now."

Kinjal gasped.

"I'd like to be alone mother."

Pursing her lips, Kinjal got up and left. Khushi continued to stare out of the window, recapping the recent events.

What's he trying to prove, Khushi wondered. He obviously has nothing to make him seem innocent.

Or is there more than what meets the eye, a voice said inside of her.

Khushi took in a sharp breath. I doubt that. It could be that what Lavanya saw was wrong, but I doubt that. He's living above a sex club for crying out loud!

Khushi exhaled deeply. "Forget about it all Kush," she said aloud to herself. "Forget him and forget that you loved him. Forget he even exists! It may not be easy, but you have to try! It's all for your own good."

*~*

After that day, Khushi stopped sulking. Day after day, she worked on building herself mentally stronger. She would distract herself by working out, doing yoga, helping her mother around the house and helping her father with work. She especially helped her father to learn of the company since she would someday own it.

Karan was happy that his daughter was learning about the family business, but he knew that it was only to help the hole within her. She still wasn't the bubbly and cheery girl she once was and he wondered if she'd ever come back.

*~*

The spring semester soon began, and Khushi was ready, physically and mentally. She knew that there was no escaping Arnav or Lavanya, so she had built herself up emotionally for that. Remembering how Anisha would smirk at her, she also knew that Anisha would continue to taunt her, so she was ready for any snarly comments if she threw any.

Her schedule was okay and of all the classes she had, she loved her culture discovery the most. This semester, Professor Saniya would choose her top dancers to go against a local college's dance group. This was one thing Khushi was very excited for and she couldn't wait!

The only thing that had her bothered was the fact that this semester, both Arnav and Lavanya were in her class. Not only them, but Aman was there as well. And most annoying of all, Anisha and her dupes were there as well.

She had stayed in for a moment to talk to her professor from her class before, so she was late by a minute or two. When she entered the room, she saw Lavanya and Aman sitting together at one end, Arnav on his own at a corner and as always, Anisha and her dupes sitting in the center. Khushi couldn't help but to shake her head as she walked in. All day, she hadn't seen any of them, and now she sees them all together.

Khushi saw Anisha looking right at her, a faint smirk on her face. She glanced at Arnav and then looked back at Khushi. Khushi rolled her eyes and sat in the front-center, blocking Anisha.

Anisha gaped at her. No one ever sat in front of her, always moving away so that she was the main focus. In lecture halls it didn't matter but here, she did.

Throughout the class, Khushi could feel Anisha trying to burn a hole through her, but she only threw her hair back, showing her that she was doing nothing to her. Khushi also saw Lavanya looking at her, trying to make eye contact, but Khushi avoided her gaze. And Arnav? All he did was look right at her. Her confidence amazed him, as well as the barriers she had created around her.

At the end of class, Lavanya had tried talk to Khushi, but she left before she even got the chance. It totally shocked Arnav, seeing how far Khushi was going. Lavanya was her best friend, yet Khushi had made her an enemy.

Why is Khushi mad at her, Arnav wondered. Because she told her the so called truth? Because what she said has hurt her?

It didn't make sense to Arnav, but the truth is that Khushi was avoiding Lavanya because it only seemed to make things easier. Seeing Lavanya with Aman all the time would only remind her of her feelings for Arnav and the many romantic and erotic thoughts she had of him. So to save herself the painful reminders, she chose to avoid Lavanya.

Day after day went on, the class meeting five times a week, only making it torturous for Khushi. It took her a while to deal with it - Lavanya trying to talk to her, as well as Aman; Anisha and her dupes trying their best to grill her, but only failing; and Arnav just staring at her. After a while, Khushi had gathered the courage and would stare back at him, her eyes fierce. He would smirk at her now and then and Khushi would roll her eyes.

For someone who said he'd prove himself innocent, he sure doesn't do anything, Khushi said in her head.

After the first two weeks, Professor Saniya had made up her mind on who would be in the dance group out of the whole class.

"The following people will be a part of the group: Khushi, Arnav, Lavanya, Aman, Anisha, Neetu, Naina...."

She went on with the names of other students while Khushi groaned inwardly. 

Really! All of them, she exclaimed in her head.

"I want those that I called to meet me after class," the professor said. 

And like she said, at the end of class, those who were called went over to her.

"I've seen your moves and I know how you dance," she said to them. "So making my decision on who should be the male lead and the female lead was very easy."

All of the students looked at her seriously, though on the inside they were rather nervous. 

"The male lead is... Arnav."

Arnav nodded.

"And the lead female is... Khushi."

Khushi nodded.

Arnav, Lavanya, and Aman just looked at her. They had expected a reaction of some sort, but Khushi was totally okay. As for Anisha, she gaped at Khushi. She thought that she should be the lead.

Sani gave them their schedule for rehearsals and other information. They were to meet 4 times in the week from 5 to 8 PM. Everyone was fine with that so they were dismissed. 

Khushi went to grab her bag. She couldn't wait to get home to tell her mom, so she rushed on out. Khushi headed out the room and turned the corner, and walked into someone. She felt the person hold her as they collided, stopping her from falling. When Khushi looked up, she saw that it was none other than Arnav. 

Arnav just looked at her. He had been waiting for this moment for quite a while now. Khushi was surprised, so she didn't react whatsoever.

"Looks like you and I are going to be partners," Arnav said. 

Khushi brain clicked back into action and she released herself. "Looks like we are."

"You can't avoid me anymore," Arnav said, though it sounded like he was grateful.

"Sadly."

Khushi turned to walk away and Arnav went after her.

"Khushi, stop avoiding me!"

Khushi whipped around. "I can and I will for as long as I can!"

"Well you can't forever cause rehearsals start Saturday."

"Then I'll avoid you as much as I can till then."

"Well then in that case, enjoy while you can," Arnav said sarcastically. 

Khushi rolled her eyes.

"Once these rehearsals start, I can finally prove my innocence to you."

Khushi scoffed. "For someone whose been doing nothing but staring staring at me, you sure are confident."

"I may have been watching you in class, but I have been doing other things during my free time."

"Like being with a whore at that club of yours," she smiled sweetly.

For a moment, Arnav just looked at her. Within a second he burst into laughter. Khushi scrunched her eyebrows, watching him confusedly as he laughed away.

"You're jealous, aren't you," Arnav laughed.

Khushi gaped. "I am not!"

"Yes you are! That's exactly what it is!"

Khushi rolled her eyes. "Whatever Arnav, say whatever shit you want."

Arnav calmed himself. "Ignore it all you want Khushi, you're jealous."

In the blink of an eye, Khushi stood before him, her grip tight on his collar. "I'm. Not. Jealous."

Arnav blinked.

"I'm furious," she simply said, and she released him and walked away.

Arnav could only blink as he watched Khushi walk away. When she turned the corner, he smiled.

Khushi my beloved, I will prove you wrong, he said in his head. It's just a matter of time now.