Arshi SS: The Ghostly Girl

Chapter 2

"Such an idiot!" Anand cried, "Couldn't you just run behind her and demand her name and number?"

Arnav shrugged and looked back to his assignments.

"Listen I'm really sorry for..." Arnav began when Anand said, "Forget it bro. It's okay!"

"Were you hurt?" he asked.

"No! It's okay Arnav! I'm not angry with you. Relax" Anand said.

Arnav nodded and Anand said, "Waise Steph broke up with me!"

"Why?"

"During our date, one of my exes, Perrie came by and created a drama. Apparently Steph believed that I'm a chronic single boy which I'm really surprised at since I have a GOOD reputation in college!" Anand said.

Arnav laughed and said, "I don't even know why I'm friends with you!"

"Hey that's offensive" Anand smacked him.

"So what now? Got a new one?" Arnav asked.

"Yep! A wonderful girl! I met her on the way back. She was walking alone and I tried my luck!" he said.

"Come on man, did you just go and hit on a girl you found on street?" Arnav asked surprised.

"If you can bunk classes for a floating girl you found near lake, then I can definitely go out with a walking girl on street" Anand said.

Arnav rolled her eyes and asked, "Who is she?"

"Khushi! Khushi Kumari Gupta!" Anand said.

"Indian?" Arnav asked.

"Pakka desi! You should see her mate! No...no don't see her. You may fall for her!" Anand said.

Arnav rolled his eyes but couldn't help but wonder why his heart skipped at the name. Khushi! Such a beautiful girl! Wonder how she would be in face? No Arnav, focus on your lake girl!

"Do you know she is wonderful? She is an artist and sells her paintings for galleries and magazines!" Anand said.

Arnav nodded and continued his assignment work.

"Are you listening?" he asked and Arnav hummed.

"So we're going on a date tomorrow evening. She lives a km away from your "floating girl's lake" you know!" Anand said.

Arnav turned him, "Really?"

"Yep! So if you wanna go to that lake for your floating girl, maybe I can drop you there by 6!" Anand said.

Arnav smiled and nodded.

"Oh look at your smile" Anand cooed, "You've fallen hard for your floating girl Raizada!"

"You also seem fallen hard for your walking girl Mittal!" Arnav sang.

"How wonderful na! We both got girlfriends at the same time!"

"Na" Arnav said, "You get girlfriends every single day! Try to keep this one go for at least a week!"

"The longest relation I had been of 5 days!" Anand said and Arnav rolled his eyes.

Next evening

"Bye" Anand said as he dropped Arnav near the lake.

"Enjoy the date" Arnav said.

"Should I ask Khushi about your floating girl?" Anand asked.

"If you can then, yes!" Arnav said and Anand nodded driving away.

Arnav walked past the lake into the woods. Walking through lonely woods by 6 was dangerous since it was growing dark but he kept walking in the hope of finding someone or some home so that he could enquire about the girl.

Who is she? Why does she seem floating on air? Is it the effect of wind and her light white gown? His mind pictured the beautiful face of her. Her beautiful eyes deprived of any efforts of makeup, her rosy lips, sharp nose, flying hair...she looked incredible.

He had seen many girls in his life but none of them had touched his heart...like her. Never had he seen someone as beautiful as her...well after his mother of course. But why does she seem pulling him to her? Who is this girl who is affecting him so much?

"Are you lost?" he heard a voice and turned to see a shepherd with his sheep.

"Err...yeah" he stammered.

"Wandering through woods is not safe" the old man said.

Arnav nodded and the old man offered, "I'll take you back out of woods. Come with me!"

Arnav nodded and walked with him. He asked, "Why are you grazing your sheep in the woods?"

"Not woods son, I graze them in the grassland outside these woods!" he said.

"Outside? But there is only a lake there!" Arnav said.

"Not that side. The woods are covered by lake on one end and grassland on other. Many shepherds come there to graze their herds!" he said.

"Well, have you seen a girl roaming here near the lake? Wearing a white gown?" Arnav asked.

"Oh! So you're here for a girl? Typical young boy!" the man rolled his eyes.

Arnav smiled sheepishly and the man said, "Well the answer is no. I have never seen a girl here! The only people who come here are shepherds and sometimes tourists like you! She may be also one!"

"No I have seen her twice here!"

"I don't know. I haven't seen anyone!" the man said.

Arnav nodded and the man said, "We're back out of wood. You can go home now!"

"Thank you sir" Arnav said and walked away.

Suddenly he stopped and turned to ask the old man where he lives and what his name was but stood shocked.

Arnav felt a chill down his spine.

The old man was not there! Nor were his sheep!