ArShi FF: Fragmented Colors

Chapter 4: Haze

Khushi gapes at her glaring phone screen, bewildered at first; then a gradual feeling of fright creeps onto her. Suddenly feeling cold, she takes in a sharp breath and moves her finger to tap the Block button, right when another text shows up.

HELLO? DON'T WORRY, THAT WAS A JOKE HAHA. Seen 12:50 am.

Her eyebrows furrow once again, this time in pure confusion and doubt.

It may possibly be a joke... but who could be behind it? She wonders, deciding not to block the unknown number just yet.

WHO IS THIS? Delivered 12:51 am.

IT'S ARNAV. Seen 12:51 am.

Her lips part in surprise at the response. She shakes her head and can't help but break into a small smile. Here she is obsessing over every single word exchanged with him, worrying over the meanings behind the littlest occurrences – while he was busy cooking up a stupid prank, of everything else.

Think of the devil...

Her fingers swiftly move across the screen, typing the first question that pops into her head.

HOW DID YOU GET MY NUMBER? Delivered 12:53 am.

I HAVE MY WAYS. Seen 12:54 am.

Khushi rolls her eyes at the answer.

HAHA. THAT WAS NOT FUNNY, BTW. Delivered 12:54 am.

SORRY. I KNEW MY NUMBER WOULD SHOW UP AS UNKNOWN SO I HAD SOME FUN OF MY OWN. DID I SCARE YOU? Seen 12:55 am.

I DON'T SCARE EASY, RAIZADA. Delivered 12:55 am.

This time, it was his turn to be surprised.

WAIT, HOW DO YOU KNOW MY LAST NAME? I NEVER TOLD YOU. Seen 12:55 am.

Khushi's lips form a smirk barely visible before she types her reply.

I HAVE MY WAYS. Delivered 12:56 am.

The brief but amusing conversation comes to an end due to the late hour, and the obligatory early morning classes they both have the next day.

After interchanges of simple goodnight texts, Khushi saves his number on her phone and for some reason, a certain warmth envelops her as she spells out his name in her contacts.

A-r-n-a-v.

"Arnav..." A murmur of an utterance; a quiet whisper sent out to the stillness all around.

Hushed to the quietude encompassing the frozen moment.

Clear, only to the glimmers of the knowing moonbeam that hung low in the night sky.

His eyes catch a thick, maroon covered book and he carefully pulls it out of the shelf, flipping through the pages to see if it was the one he was looking for. After a quick skim he decides to borrow it, walking towards the counter as his shoes make a soft tapping noise with each step, the sound echoing much more than usual in the muffled silence of the massive room.

"I'd like to check this book out, please,"

"Sure. May I see your library card?" Says an elderly woman sitting behind the counter, lowering her bifocals.

Arnav hands her his card and after it is scanned, he thanks her and starts heading towards the entrance when a hand waves at him from afar. His vacant face immediately livens up and he waves back, walking toward her direction.