Arshi SS: The Ghostly Girl

Chapter 16

"Hello NK!" Arnav and Anand cried as NK joined them from lunch at canteen.

"Hey boys, how's it going?"

"How's what going?" Arnav asked frowning.

"Your classes and also relationship with a senior girl!" NK said raising his eyebrows.

Anand laughed and Arnav blushed red.

"Classes and relationship are inversely proportional to each other NK" Anand said controlling his laughter, "Ever since Arnav got his happiness, I mean got his Khushi, studies went downhill!"

"Well not for her it seems" NK said laughing, "Khushi is still the class topper!"

"That's my girl" Arnav said.

"What's happening here?" Khushi asked taking a seat joining the three boys.

"Nothing just applying inverse proportionality constants for practical things" Anand said and NK burst into laughter.

Khushi frowned and looked at Arnav who smiled sheepishly. "They are crazy!"

"Anyway, what's the plan after lunch break?" NK asked.

"We're going for a date!" Khushi said wrapping her arm around Arnav.

"Bunking classes again? This is the fourth this week!" Anand cried.

Arshi shrugged and NK said, "Let them Anu...love sick puppies!"

Anand chuckled and Arshi got up. "Okay then, we're leaving. Bye!"

They left and Anand looked at NK.

"Well since they have gone, why don't we also leave?" NK asked smiling slyly.

"Is there a need to ask?" Anand asked smirking.

"Well looks like your brother and my sister are in same class. Payal did mention someone named Akash!" Khushi said sipping her chocolate shake.

Arnav smiled and said, "See even our siblings are close friends!"

"So?" Khushi asked frowning.

"Nothing I just....urrgh! I don't know why I'm going on uttering rubbish these days" Arnav groaned.

She giggled and Arnav said, "It's because I've been holding something inside me!"

"What?" she asked frowning.

Arnav smiled and stood up. He walked to the opposite chair where she sat and kneeled before her.

"Arnav" she gasped.

"Khushi, I have loved since the first day I met you, years ago, at my house with my sister. I tried to consider you as a sister but couldn't! Then I decided to fix you as my friend. I failed there too! And then I realized that there is only one way that I can see and that's as my beloved soul mate!" he said and took out a ring.

She gasped and he said, "Don't worry. It's not an engagement ring. Just a promise ring. It's a promise from me that you're the one; the one whom I have in my dreams, the one whom I'm gonna marry in future, the one who will be mother of my children and the one with whom I'll breathe my last!"

He extended his palm and she smiled in tears. She placed her palm on his hand and Arnav smiled slipping the ring to her finger. The other people of restaurant clapped for the couple and Arnav stood up and leaned to kiss her passionately.

"So who was it today?" Arnav said slumping on the hostel bed.

Anand raised his eyebrows in question and Arnav said chuckling, "Come on, there is new hickey on your neck. So tell who today's date was!"

"Err....it's not someone you know" Anand said looking away.

"Anu...." Arnav sang, "Who is it my boy? Are you hiding something?"

"Hiding? Me? No. It's a mosquito bite and i didn't have any date today." Anand said.

"So my best friend went out without a word and comes back with new love bites and a sex hair. You want me to believe your word? Tell me her name!" Arnav demanded.

"Nila" Anand said.

"Nila? Never head of her!" Arnav frowned.

"Met her at a club" Anand said.

Suddenly his phone blinked indicating a message and Arnav raised an eyebrow.

"Message at 11.45 night? Must be from "Nila"?" Arnav asked and Anand rolled his eyes taking the mobile.

His face suddenly hardened and Arnav frowned, "What is it?"

"Nothing. Err...I gotta go" Anand stood up.

"What happened Anand?" Arnav asked sitting up.

"It's Nila's friend. Err...Nila is drunk and I gotta...pick her up" Anand said and hurried out of the room.

"Okay!" Arnav shrugged and lied back on his bed.

"The next morning they found Khushi's dead body in her hostel room. Sleeping pills overdose!" Anjali said and looked at Anand who was sitting before her.

Anand looked down and then at her, "So....Arnav is not gay. He loved Khushi"

Anjali nodded.

"He was not in relationship with NK. I was" Anand whispered.

Anjali nodded.

Anjali sighed and said, "If you don't believe me, I'll get you in contact with NK. He'll show you many proofs and you can be sure that you both weren't JUST friends!"

Anand frowned and asked, "But then...what happened afterwards? I went to NK right? And who killed Khushi?"

Anjali chuckled and asked, "Isn't that obvious Anand?"

"NK?" Anand asked with eyes widened.

Anjali scoffed and said, "Gotta give an award to NK's father. He definitely did a good work in erasing your memory! Even after trying hard to get you reminded of the past and giving you hints, you don't remember an ounce! Urrgh! Science!"

"Wait what? Giving me hints?" Anand frowned.

Anjali shrugged.

"Listen I'm getting confused. Let me assemble things. So Arnav and Khushi were love sick puppies. I was gay and in relationship with NK, Khushi's classmate and our friend. Then Khushi died. Who killed her? Then, Arnav could see for the past three years but didn't tell me a word. Then you, Arnav and Khushi played a drama and made me believe that Arnav played with Khushi's feelings and was in relationship with NK. And also that me and Arnav had our memory erased and Arnav is still in relationship with NK." Anand finished with a sigh.

"Right!" Anjali said smiling.

"So now complete the story. What happened after I got Nila, I mean NK's message? What was the message? Where did I go? And how am I related to Khushi's murder!" Anand asked.

"BECAUSE YOU KILLED HER!" Anjali hissed in anger.