ArShi FF: Fragmented Colors

Chapter 5: Melodies

It has been exactly 15 hours and 15 minutes since she had shared a cup of coffee and a conversation to remember with the only person in campus who made her heart skip a beat. Rows below, her professor rambles on about architectural history, the words all sounding faint and far away to her preoccupied mind that is now painting a hazy picture of striking umber eyes. The pencil in her hand glides across margined lines to bring her imagination to paper, shadows of lead mingling with the blue ink of her neatly penned notes. The dismissal of class and the shifting of students from their seats stops her midway, and she quickly closes her notebook and gathers her purse.

"Khushi! Oh good, I was waiting to talk to you, it's been so long!"

Her face lights up at the sight of a certain dimpled girl, sharing a word of greeting as they hug.

"Lavanya, it's only been two days since your party, remember?" Khushi laughs at her exaggeration.

"That's still pretty long," She replies, huffing.

"Anyway, I figured since we have a long weekend coming up we could all go to the beach tomorrow! That way we can finish up work later on if we need to and still enjoy the beach and have fun, I've planned everything so you can't say no, I won't hear it-"

"Lavanya, breathe!" Khushi grabs hold of her shoulders, shaking her slightly to stop her from babbling. Lavanya pouts, and Khushi nods her head in a yes before smiling, earning an instant hug of excitement from her friend.

"Hello, ladies!"

Khushi tilts her head towards the direction of a third voice to find an averagely tall guy dressed in a brown leather jacket and ripped jeans, with hair that is gelled to the point of looking wet. Lavanya grins and Khushi almost catches her blushing, making her wonder who this guy is.

"NK, this is Khushi,"

"So you're Khushi! I've heard a lot about you," He says, flashing a warm smile.

"Good things I hope," She replies, and the three of them share a laugh.

"Of course, all good things," He takes a quick glance at the watch on his wrist, his eyebrows raising.

"Oh damn, I'm late to class. I'll catch you guys later," NK walks away hurriedly after nodding at the two girls, his trail of sight unhidden from Khushi, who had noticed how he had taken his time to look at Lavanya for just a second more.

Khushi turns to her, watching how her attention remained at the direction in which NK had gone, a soft smile playing on her lips.

"So what's the deal? Spill,"

Lavanya looks baffled, feigning an expression of oblivion, to which Khushi raises one eyebrow in doubt.

"Okay, fine. I like him a little," Lavanya finally declares, looking away.

"A little?"

"Okay, maybe a lot! Have you seen how cute he is?" She argues, dreamy eyed.

Khushi squints, shaking her head in indifference.

"Meh, he's not my type,"

"Who is your type, then?"

Khushi looks into the distance, suddenly realizing she has an answer to the question, a clear answer that lay imprinted on the pages of the notebook in her hands...

"Khushi! What happened?" Lavanya taps her shoulder.

"Forget about me. You and NK, I can so see that happening. Is he coming to the beach?" She asks, diverting the topic.