Beyond Friendship

Chap_4

Arnav's POV

Getting freshened up, I headed downstairs to have dinner.

As I descended the stairs, I found Kaiden already seated at the dining table alone. He looked tensed.

I turned to the guest room. The door was locked. I walked to Kaiden. Seeing the table set for two, I questioned, "Isn't Khushi going to have dinner with us?"

"I have sent it in her room." Kaiden said. Though his voice was casual, I couldn't be more confused. "Why? We could have taken the dinner together."

Kaiden answered normally, "She wasn't feeling like it."

"Is she okay?" I asked getting concerned.

"Yeah, she is okay. You don't worry. Come, let's take our dinner." I heard Kaiden.

I settled on my chair but without taking the spoon, I turned to him, "Kaiden, I know it's a new place and she will take time to get used to be here with us but we should try from our end. Okay, let me get her out of her room."

I knew I wasn't being myself but she was Kaiden's little sister. I couldn't help but get concerned.

I took a step ahead only to get stopped as Kaiden uttered, "No, you don't go, please."

His voice was panicky.

Confused as ever, I turned back to him, "What's wrong, Kaiden?"

Kaiden looked down as if hesitating to share whatever was going on in his mind.

"Kaiden, you know you can share with me. I thought we are family." I said feeling somewhat hurt.

"Khushi is scared." Kaiden said as he looked up making me confused.

"Of what? Me? What did I even do to get her scared of me?" I shot back to back questions. Well, I knew I was introvert, very arrogant and rude, the type of person, people would like to avoid.

But it was for outside world. Khushi was Kaiden's sister and she wouldn't get that version of me. I thought Kaiden would know that.

Getting me out of my thought, Kaiden spoke up again, "There was a guy, Reid. He__"

As Kaiden went on, my blood literally started boiling. Now thinking of it, it made sense of Khushi's odd behaviour.

It had already been a week but I hardly saw her face. On the first day of her arriving here, I saw her in the living room and later at night on the balcony of her room and just after I asked her a question, she went back into her room. Whenever I was home, she would be in her room.

"Arnav, it would be best if we move out. I hope you will understand me." Kaiden said pulling me out of my thoughts.

My mind was still busy processing his words and couldn't come up with a response.

"I am not feeling hungry actually. I would get some sleep now. You have your dinner. Good night." Kaiden said and left for his room.

I sat still in my chair. As much as I was hungry, I couldn't get myself to hold the spoon.

I shoved the food into the refrigerator and headed for my room, wishing to sleep it off the rest of night.

Things didn't go as per my plan and I only kept tossing on my bed for hours only to be frustrated and then sat up.

I got down from the bed and started pacing in the room as I gave the whole situation a good thought.

I should be rational here. With the situation Khushi was in, it's normal for her to be traumatic, afraid to face people around her.