Chapter Thirty

"Arnav, Khushi - let's see what you've got," Sani said with her arms crossed.

It was their third week of rehearsal and boy had everyone improved. They were coming along quite well and now Sani was trying to keep focus on Arnav and Khushi's solo.

Khushi had avoided Arnav ever since her talk with Aman and Lavanya. She just didn't want to deal with the emotional roller coaster anymore. But unfortunately for her, she did have to see him. And at the moment, she had to dance with him.

Sani played The Disco Song. "Five, six, seven, and-"

Arnav and Khushi danced, and although they had mastered the steps, Sani knew they were lacking something - passion.

"Stop."

Arnav and Khushi did so and Sani turned off the music.

"You guys are doing great, but you're lacking the passion. Do you two not want to do this? Because if so, I can find others who do."

Arnav and Khushi shook their heads.

"Then at the next meet, show me that you do care. Dismissed."

Everybody dispersed and went to get their stuff. Arnav was first to get his stuff and he rushed right out of the room. Khushi found his behavior odd, as well as Anisha. 

Lavanya joined Khushi. "Well that was strange," she said, looking at the door.

"It was," Khushi agreed.

"Did you notice the look he had the entire time? It was as if he didn't want to be here. Like he had other important things he wanted to deal with."

"Yeah, I had noticed when he came in. But I don't understand what the big deal is."

Aman came walking over, handing each of them a bottle of water. "Did you forget what tonight is?"

Lavanya scrunched her eyebrows "What's tonight?"

And then it hit Khushi. "It's the night of the masquerade ball," she gasped.

"Exactly," Aman replied.

Is the masquerade ball that big of a deal, Khushi wondered.

Without a word, Khushi walked out of the room.

"Khushi," Lavanya called after her, but Khushi didn't stop.

Khushi walked down the hall and found a bulletin board. She looked for the poster about the masquerade ball, and the second she sighted it, someone pulled the flier off - it was Anisha.

Anisha looked at the flier and then smirked at Khushi. "Planning on going to the party?"

Khushi said nothing, crossing her arms and staring her down.

Anisha looked her up and down. "Don't bother - it's not a place for people like you."

Khushi cocked her eyebrow. "Oh? But it's for fake people like you?"

Anisha rolled her eyes with a chuckle. "Oh Khushi, you have no idea about that place, do you?"

Khushi stepped forward and stared Anisha down. "Oh but I do. And I know very well that you don't belong there."

"Me?" And she laughed. "Then how come I'm on the VIP list," she smirked.

"Funny, I don't remember your name on Simon's tablet."

Khushi didn't know why she was saying this. Its not like she ever got a full glimpse of it that night she had gone to La Roux with Lavanya, but she took her chances.

And she definitely succeeded.

"Simon? Who the heck is Simon," Anisha asked.

Khushi smirked. "Some VIP member you are. How do you not know who mans the entry," Khushi tsked.

It was obvious Anisha was trying to figure out who Khushi was talking about. "Oh, Simon? Yeah I know who that is. Please, do you possibly expect me to remember everyone's name there? As if," and she brushed her hair back of her shoulder.

Khushi scoffed and chuckled lightly, crossing her arms as she shook her head. "How pathetic."

"Excuse me," Anisha snapped.

Khushi stepped forward, coming to a threatening distance to Anisha. "You heard me."

As hard as Anisha tried, she couldn't get rid of the fear in her eyes.

"I'm going to that party tonight, and if I see you there, you'll regret it."

"Are you threatening me," Anisha squealed.

"No honey, I'm just warning you. Who knows what truths and secrets I'll find out tonight."

And with that, Khushi turned on her heels and walked away. She needed to get home as soon as possible, but first, she needed to make a quick detour to the mall.

After all she did need a dress and a mask for the ball.

*~*

With a deep breath, Khushi looked at herself in the mirror. She wore a scarlet lace dress with a very - and I mean very - high slit, and her back was revealed. If her parents were home right now, she was sure her father would've thrown a potato sack on top of her. As for her mother, well, she wasn't exactly sure. Luckily for Khushi, they were at a conference gala and she had skipped out on it.

Grabbing her mask, wrap, and clutch, she checked herself in the mirror one last time before she headed out. Just as Khushi got in her car, her phone buzzed in her clutch. Taking it out, she saw that Lavanya was calling.

"Where are you," Lavanya asked before she could say hello.

"What do you mean?"

"Are you at the event yet, or not?"

"You're going?"

"Of course! You think I'm gonna miss out on this? Yeah right."

"Well, I'm leaving the house. You?"

"Aman is pulling up."

"Cool. See you in 10?"

"Before the wooden doors."

"Sure."

Khushi disconnected the call and drove off. Her nerves were on their ends, unsure of what to expect. The night could go in either way - it could either end with their issues resolved, or it could completely break her with the truth. Khushi didn't know what to think, so she cleared her mind and focused on the voice of Bruno Mars.

Not long later, Khushi arrived to La Roux. Before exiting her car, she took off her wrap and put her mask on - a scarlet mask with black glitter, waving in vintage forms. With a deep breath, Khushi exited the car, putting her phone in her clutch. The line to enter the club was much bigger than the last time she was here. They were all dressed up and concealing their identity with their masks. Khushi noticed then that compared to her, these people weren't as fancily dressed. They looked like they were here more for the club, than for the event.

Khushi heard her phone beep, so she took it out. It was Lavanya, telling her that her and Aman were up front, getting past the bouncer.

Khushi called her. "La, should I wait on the line or-"

"Nonsense, just go up to Eddy."

"Who?"

"The bouncer."

"Gotcha."

Khushi walked ahead to the front, hearing some people fuss and complain about her going in before them and how they had waited at least an hour.

Yikes, Khushi thought. All for this?

Khushi got to the front and forced herself not to gulp when she came before the bouncer. It wasn't the same guy as last time, but he sure was as big as the last guy.

"Hey, I'm on the VIP list," Khushi said confidently somehow.

Eddy pulled out his phone. "Name," he said, not looking up at her.

"Khushi Kumari Gupta."

He went through the list and checked her off. "Better be the real one - or else," he warned.

Khushi gulped and nodded. "Don't worry, it's really me."

Khushi turned and walked inside. She texted Lavanya and miraculously heard Lavanya's phone ping. She looked in that direction and saw a woman in a violet strapless dress with a slit, and a man looking very handsome in his suit.

"Khushi," the woman in purple called out.

It was indeed Lavanya and Khushi joined her.

"You look absolutely gorge," Lavanya squealed.

"Thanks, so do you!"

"Ready to go in," Aman asked.

Khushi took a deep breathe then nodded. "Let's do this."

They opened the double doors and entered a new world. Music thumped and the air was filled with sweat. Scantily dressed dancers danced on their small stages while bodies moved to the beat, faces covered with masks.

"You think Anisha is here," Lavanya yelled over the music.

"I don't know," Khushi shouted back.

"Let's go to the bar," Aman said, and the girls nodded.

The trio headed over to the crowded bar. Aman ordered them drinks, getting the ladies Cosmos and a scotch on the rocks for himself. When they got their drinks, Khushi looked out at the floor. With the number of people here, it would be impossible to know whether or not Anisha and her dupes were here. It would also be impossible to know if Arnav-

Khushi felt a jolt run up her spine. She didn't know where it came from, but her body was now hyper-aware. She had even straightened herself. The sudden shock made no sense to her, but all she understood was that Arnav was here.

"Khushi," Lavanya said when she noticed Khushi acting odd, "what's wrong?"

"He's here," Khushi breathed.

"Who? Arnav?"

Khushi nodded.

"He is," Aman questioned. "How do you know?"

Before Khushi could answer, the bartender behind them placed a Gimlet before Khushi.

"Um, I didn't order that," Khushi said.

"I know - the guy over there did," he said, jerking his head toward the person.

The three of them looked up and saw a man drinking a Manhattan. Khushi observed the man, taking in account of the charcoal Hugo Boss tuxedo he wore and the black mask he wore. The man glanced at her and Khushi felt her heart skip a beat. He finished his drink and got up, disappearing within the crowd.

"Whoa," Lavanya said. "That dress is totally getting you some points," she teased.

Khushi blinked for a few seconds before she spoke. "That was him."

"What? You're kidding!"

Khushi got up. "It was him. I know it was."

"How can you tell," Aman asked. "The dude was wearing a mask-"

"Because I felt him."

"Felt him," Lavanya questioned.

"I can't explain it, but it was him," and Khushi went into the crowd.

"Khushi," Lavanya called after her, but Khushi was already deep within the crowd.

Chapter Twenty Nine

Khushi looked at herself in the mirror. What Arnav had just done kept playing before her and she was still shocked by it.

I can't believe he did that, she said in her head. What is going on?! I'm so confused!

Khushi shut her eyes and calmed herself down.

Alright Kush, calm down, she pepped. Things will make sense soon. Right now, you are gonna go back to that room and continue to learn the steps. Okay? Good.

Khushi washed her face and wiped it clean with a paper towel. She headed back to the room and saw everyone else was there. Sani continued their lessons and before she even realized it, rehearsals was over. Khushi grabbed her stuff and was checking her phone, when Lavanya came up to her.

"Hi," Lavanya said softly.

Khushi looked up and saw a hopeful Lavanya. "Hi."

Lavanya sighed, her shoulders sagging. "You actually responded."

"I did."

Lavanya pursed her lips. "I... I don't know what to say..... I didn't expect you to respond."

Khushi put her phone away and looked at her. "Well I did."

Lavanya blinked a few times and then looked down. "Khushi have I-"

"You didn't do anything."

Lavanya looked back up at her. "But you've been avoiding me-"

"I know... and it's not fair on your part," Khushi said softly. "Like a good, caring best friend, you told me what you saw to protect me."

"Then why have you been avoiding me?"

Khushi looked at Aman, who was getting his stuff. Lavanya looked at him and then at Khushi.

"He's always around you," Khushi said. "Seeing you guys together..." Khushi looked down. "It would remind me of what I wanted with Arnav."

Lavanya bit her lip. "You could have said something you know."

"I-"

"What the fuck Khushi?!"

Khushi flinched.

"All this time I kept thinking you were mad at me for something I did, or if it was the whole Arnav thing! Bruh, you cudda said something!"

Khushi bit her lip. "You said bruh."

"Don't crack jokes Gupta," Lavanya said, pointing her finger at Khushi.

Khushi pursed her lips.

"I'm so mad at you!"

"Sorry-"

"You better be! Now buy me a large caramel latte so that I can forgive you!"

Khushi's lips twitched up. "Same ol', same ol'," she teased.

"Shut up. I haven't had one in so long!"

"Why," Khushi asked, hanging her bag on her shoulder.

"Aman keeps me away from fatty things," she said with a roll of his eyes.

Khushi chuckled. "That sounds like him."

"I believe I heard my name," Aman said as he came over, wrapping his arm around Lavanya's neck.

The girls smiled at him.

"And I believe you both are talking again."

They grinned. "We are," they both said together.

"Well then let's celebrate. Caramel lattes on me!"

"Now that's an offer I'll take," Lavanya said.

Khushi chuckled. "Same."

*~*

Khushi, Lavanya, and Aman were sitting at a booth in the cafe, Khushi sitting on one side while Lavanya and Aman sat at the other. Khushi had told Aman what she had told Lavanya.

"If that was the case, I wouldn't have minded spending less time with her," Aman said.

"No, that's not right," Khushi said.

"But you guys are best friends. I wouldn't have minded-"

"But I'd feel bad. And knowing her she would've broken up with you, and I couldn't let that happen."

"Khushi-"

"No La," Khushi said, cutting her off. "Its okay. Besides, I needed time to myself."

Lavanya and Aman nodded.

"Khushi," Lavanya began, "I feel like there's more to what I saw that evening with Arnav and Anisha."

"What makes you say that," she replied.

"Anisha... she's... there's something up with that chick."

"Why did you go after her during rehearsal," Aman asked.

"She was being a bitch and kept bumping into me during practice."

"I noticed. What happened when you followed her out?"

"I threatened her," Lavanya said proudly.

"You what," Aman asked, totally amused.

"I told her to watch out for her ass cause if she's hiding something, Khushi is gonna take out all that padding she's got stuffed in there.

Khushi back-washed her latte and broke into laughter.

 

"Dude, gross," Lavanya laughed.

Aman was laughing as well. The three laughed, envisioning an enraged Khushi attacking Anisha.

"Now that I'd pay to see," Aman said.

Khushi chuckled and wiped her mouth with a tissue. "Jesus Christ, I've missed you."

"Ditto," Lavanya smiled.

"Would you really do that though," Aman chuckled.

"No," Khushi said. "I'd pull the stuffing out of her bra as well."

All three broke into laughter once more, filled with joy. Unfortunately, there was one unfortunate soul who was at the counter, hearing it all.

Arnav.

The barista handed Arnav his coffee. "Anything else?"

"No," Arnav responded sadly.

Khushi had looked up then and saw Arnav at the counter. She could see the hint of sadness across his face. Lavanya and Aman had noticed Khushi was looking elsewhere and followed her line of gaze. They saw what she saw as well.

Arnav turned to leave when he caught them all looking at him. He quickly looked away and walked out.

"Aww," Lavanya said.

"I feel bad for him," Aman said.

Khushi looked at them. "I noticed you guys don't talk anymore. How come?"

Lavanya looked down and Aman rubbed her shoulder.

"Him and La got into a fight after she took you to La Roux - that's the name of the club."

"Oh...."

"Yeah," Lavanya said softly. "I've never seen him that angry before."

"Same," Aman said.

Everyone was quiet for a moment.

"Khushi," Lavanya said, breaking the silence, "I dunno why, but I have this feeling that Arnav is innocent."

Khushi looked at her. "Why?"

"I dunno, I just get the feeling he is."

"Well I'm positive," Aman said.

Khushi scrunched her eyebrows. "Positive?"

Aman leaned forward, folding his hands. "See, when Arnav came back from his first year, he told me all about you. He went on for hours and hours about you. It was obvious he liked you and when I asked, he admitted it. He had realized it before, but he just never said anything to you. When you left last year, he was beyond pissed. He was all like didn't she even think about me and what not. And when he found out when you were coming back, he went through the roof! Auntie was so confused and he told her about you-"

Khushi back-washed her latte again. "What," she coughed. 

"It's okay, auntie is really chill. From what she heard, she really liked you."

Khushi blushed, her eyes wide.

"Aww, you're blushing, " Lavanya teased.

Khushi frowned and Aman chuckled. 

"My point is," Aman continued, "is that I don't think Arnav did anything."

"But what about what I saw," Lavanya said. "I mean that's where the confusion begins. I saw her come out of his apartment. I saw Anisha pulling up her strap. It was already down when she came out of the apartment."

Aman was quiet for a moment."What if she did it cause she knew you were coming?"

Lavanya shook her head. "Nope, Arnav didn't know so she couldn't possibly. I didn't even know where they were until I asked around and Simon confirmed."

"Who," Khushi asked. 

"The guy who took your pic on his tablet when we went upstairs to the VIP."

Khushi remembered back to that day and nodded.

"So she didn't fake it," Aman said, more to himself. "But...."

"But," both ladies questioned.

"He wouldn't have done it. I don't think he did anything."

"But Aman-"

"He didn't do it La," he said, cutting her off. "He loves Khushi too much for that."

"Then what do you think," Khushi questioned. 

"I have a theory but... who knows if it's true. It's just a thought and it could be a piece to it."

Khushi nodded.

"La, you said that Simon told you that Arnav was drunk right?"

Lavanya nodded.

"Well... what if Anisha took advantage of that?"

Khushi's and Lavanya's eyes widened. They had never thought of it that way.

"What if Anisha got him drunk and then had them go up to his place? What if she convinced him into having sex with her?"

Khushi scrunched her eyebrows. "That's a possibility... unless..." and she gasped.

"What," Lavanya questioned.

Khushi glanced left to right, a thought going through her head. Unless... I shudda known!

"Well," Lavanya urged.

The corners of Khushi's lips lifted. "I shudda known all along," she grinned cunningly. 

Aman and Lavanya looked at each other in confusion.

"If there's one thing we've learned about Anisha in all these years, then what's that," Khushi asked Lavanya.

"That she's the biggest bitch in the world and that she's an idiot."

Aman chuckled and Khushi narrowed her eyes.

"Okay, yeah, besides that," Khushi said.

"Um..?"

"That she's always tried to get Arnav floating around her."

Lavanya's eyes widened. "You're right. The first time we ever met her, she was trying to grill you but failed miserably because we were with him and he was all over you."

"So she's jealous of you," Aman said. "So?"

"It's only a hunch," Khushi said.

"And," both Lavanya and Aman urged.

"What if she made it seem like they did something?"

Both Lavanya and Aman wondered for a moment. 

"You could be onto something," Aman said.

"Knowing that plastic bitch, she would do something like that, " Lavanya said.

Khushi sighed. "Arnav keeps telling me that he'll prove his innocence. As much as I feel that he's lying and all, why would someone wanna prove their self innocent when they're guilty of something like this?"

"Like anyone else whose guilty of anything," Aman said. "But you could be right Khushi. I have a feeling you're theory is correct."

"There's only one way to find out for sure," Lavanya said. "We have to know exactly what happened that night at the club."

"But how," Khushi said. "Only those who were there would know-"

"No. I remember Arnav telling me about the security cameras they have. There's security cameras all over the club floor. Also, each apartment has one...."

Lavanya's eyes widened. 

"What?"

"The cameras' recordings for his apartment are all found in-"

"In his apartment," Aman finished. 

"Which means-"

"Arnav has that tape. He has the proof! But if that's the case, why is he taking so long to prove it? Why not show it?"

Khushi bit her lip, her emotions getting the best of her. "Maybe because he isn't. Maybe he wants to tamper the evidence because he's guilty. He was just bullshitting everything all this time," she said, her voice a mere whisper. 

Lavanya looked at her best friend and saw the sorrow in her eyes. "Khushi," she cajoled, reaching out to hold her hand.

But Khushi withdrew her hand before she even could, and stood up. Without a word, she left, tears forming in her eyes. 

Lavanya tired to get up to follow her, but Aman held her back.

"Aman-"

"She needs to be alone now, babe. It's tough for her."

Lavanya looked down and Aman held her.

"What the hell did he do," Lavanya cried. "Why is he leading her on like this?"

Aman ran his hand over her back, trying to figure out the whole situation.

*~*

Khushi quickly walked home with tears in her eyes. They escaped now and then, and she would fiercely wipe them away. When she got home, her parents saw Khushi and her condition. 

"Khushi," Kinjal called out. "Baby, what's wrong?"

But Khushi ignored her and ran up to her room and locked the door behind her. Her parents came running behind and knocked on the door.

"Khushi," Karan called out. 

Khushi slid down the door and let the tears escape, her crying. 

Why did you give me hope, she exclaimed in her head. Why?!

While Khushi cried away, over at La Roux, Arnav was walking through his duplex apartment, wearing nothing but his black slacks. He went downstairs and went into the security room, which was below the staircase, next to the study. He looked at the multiple screens, displaying different angles of his apartment. He looked to the side and looked at a disk sitting on the desk, with a date and time range written on top of it. 

Arnav picked it up and his lips crooked up, forming a devilish smirk.

Gotcha.