Arshi SS: The Ghostly Girl

Chapter 11

"How's di?"

That was the first question Arnav heard as he entered his house. Looking up he saw Anand sitting on the couch in the living room sipping some juice.

"She's fine. Doctor said she fainted due to shock!" Arnav said sitting before him.

"Khushi played some prank on her" Anand said and placed the glass of juice on the table which was between both the boys.

"Who told you about NK?" Arnav asked.

"Khushi" Anand said.

"How does she know?" Arnav gasped.

Anand scoffed and looked at him, "Why did you hide this from me?"

"I didn't want anyone other than di to know!" Arnav said looking down.

Anand sighed and said, "It's hard Arnav. It's really hard to trust you anymore!"

"Anand come on..." Arnav began when Anand showed him his palm, "Leave it. Don't you want to hear Khushi's story?"

Arnav nodded.

"Ok" Anand said clearing his throat, "Khushi Kumari Gupta was your sister's classmate at high school. They both were best friends. She used to come here and di used to visit her house too!"

Arnav frowned, "If then why don't I remember her?"

"Hear it out Arnav" Anand snapped.

"Sorry. Continue!"

"After school, Khushi got admission in Harvard and she left. Anjali and Khushi still had contacts and both the girls shared their experiences over phone. It was then, three years ago, you and I got Harvard scholarship! And we left to Harvard!" Anand paused and looked at him.

Arnav was frowning but still nodded.

"I know. Even I don't remember her!" Anand chuckled, "You and Khushi met again at Harvard....oh and so did I. We three became friends and then...you both fell in love. Anjali was initially against this but soon gave her nod under my convincing words. Umm thank me later Arnav. And then just 4 months later Khushi was found dead at hostel room! Bang! The end!"

Arnav frowned and said "But then she said that we both were the ones whom she saw for the last time!"

Anand nodded and said, "On the day of her death we both had met her at a cafe. That was in the evening. Then she found out about your "secret" and you both had a conversation. That night she was found dead by sleeping pill overdose!"

Arnav rubbed his face and whispered, "So she came to know about NK and killed herself?"

"Nope. It wasn't a suicide. That's what she said!" Anand said.

Arnav sighed and leaned back on the sofa.

Anand looked at him and said, "Khushi found out about NK. Apparently it was a secret only you and your sister knew. Care to tell me why I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS?"

Arnav shut his eyes and said, "Anand please..."

Nani and mami were talking with doctor and Anjali leaned on the headboard of her hospital bed.

Her phone rang and she looked at the caller id.

NK calling

"What do you want NK?" she asked sharply.

"Hello my classmate!" NK greeted.

"I had pointed out the last time we talked that I would appreciate if we stay as "long lost" friends!" Anjali snapped.

"Chill girl! I got an invitation for our high school reunion and was suddenly reminded of you. Are you coming?"

"Yeah. It's just 10 minutes drive from my home idiot! Where are you! I really hope that you're suffering"

"Jesus! Come on girl, show me some kindness. After all I have a special connection with your family!" NK laughed.

"Just fuck off!" she said and cut the call.

She sighed and closed her eyes recalling the day, 3 years back, when she and her brother had a serious conversation about her high school classmate NandKishore a.k.a NK.

3 years back

"Welcome home Chotte!" Anjali hugged her brother who had come home for the first time since he had left for Harvard.

"How is Harvard?" Anjali asked as she plopped onto her brother's bed.

"Great. It's just been a month and I'm in love with the place!" Arnav said happily.

"Did you meet Khushi?"

"Your nerd friend? Yes!" Arnav said chuckling.

"Hey, she is a nice girl!" Anjali cried.

"Yeah right" Arnav scoffed, "Her eyes are bored into books, 24x7. Such a geek! Boring!"

Anjali rolled her eyes and said, "She is a brilliant girl and idiots like you won't understand her IQ!"

"Hey I got a scholarship at Harvard. Don't forget that!" Arnav said.

"Forget it! Now tell me about your friends"

"Anand! And yes, NK!" Arnav said.

"NK?" Anjali asked, "I have heard this name before!"

Arnav took out his mobile and opened his gallery.

"This is the guy!" he said and handed the mobile to Anjali.

Anjali looked at the pic and gasped. "Hey this is my old classmate! NandKishore!"

Arnav looked at her and Anjali cried, "Oh my! He has grown stubble!" and giggled.

It was then Akash came and called Arnav for some work. Arnav walked out and Anjali started scrolling through the images of gallery!

Arnav came back after some minutes and found his sister sitting frozen looking at his mobile.

He snatched it and said laughing, "When I give you my mobile to see a pic you're not supposed to check the other pics!"

But Anjali didn't laugh. Instead, she snatched his mobile back and shoved it into his face. "EXPLAIN THIS!"

Arnav looked at the photo and gulped. Oh shit! Why didn't he transfer those pics to another folder?

"ARNAV I ASKED YOU TO EXPLAIN!" Anjali shouted.

"Di...."

"What does this mean?" Anjali asked angrily looking at the pic and scrolled for more images.

"It is what it is" Arnav snapped.

Anjali looked at him shocked.

"No...You cannot" Anjali gasped.

"But I am!" Arnav said looking down, "Di this is what I am!"

"What the fuck!" Anjali threw the mobile and it smashed into pieces "This can't be true" she cried.

Arnav said "It is di. This is true. I'm gay and NK is my boyfriend"

PS :- PLEASE DON'T KILL ME