Antecedent or Accident??

Episode 5 - Introducing themselves

Something as hard as a hammer struck in Khushi's mind. Oh yes! That's why all the dates doesn't match with this guy. The guy must have studied pre- kg and she didn't so he must be two years elder to her. It is not 199- minus 1 but 199- minus 2!!!

Jeevitha: Come Khushi, Let's go. My God!!! We are 20 minutes late!!!! The hour is going to end soon. They all rushed to the class. It took them a 5 minute more as the class is in 5th floor. They didn't wait for the lift. They hurried and panted when they reached the class and said in chorus.

"Excuse me maam.."

Maam (rumbling) : Stay out!! Where were you all this time?? Girls you are so disgusting. It's a shame that the boys in your class are so good but you are all so immature. I've marked absent for you all.

Monisha: Maam..

Maam: Shut up. Don't show me all your faces. Get lost!

Monisha: It's all because of you Khushi. Otherwise we would be back in time.

Khushi: Sorry, I thought she'd leave us as you all come late every day.

Jeevitha was about to say something but Nayantara cued her with a shook.

They all waited in the corridor for the hour to end.

Nayantara: Why didn't you cry when maam was insulting us. Well we are used to all these thundering but I thought being teacher's favourite pet you might cry.

Khushi: I am not their pet and ya even I am used to these shouts since my school days.

Maam walked away without eyeing them. Oh no! Khushi too got a bad name with them. But you know what? Of all the bad things, this guy eyeing her was the best moment in her life. She blushed also being cautious nobody is noticing her. Then the cricket team passes them and her heart beat stops for a second. The guy was also coming past their class and also they were asked to stand out near their class. The guy eyes Khushi and she gets red. The next hour maam came to the senior class and asked them to wait out. Khushi for the first time whished when the next hour maam comes to her class, she would ask them to wait out itself. The next hour staff came and Khushi badly prayed to Devimaiyya not to go inside. She eyes him to check whether he sees her. To her surprise, he was still lost in her. His friends were commenting seeing them. Some of them laughed.

Maam: Your maam asked me not to let you all in for this hour too. Everybody faked an "ooooh" including Khushi. But the others thought that Khushi was really worried. But Khushi was dancing inside her heart. Khushi and the guy were lost in each other's eyes. The group didn't notice it as they were busy talking to themselves.

Monisha: Sorry Khushi. It's because of me everything happened. If I hadn't call you, you would have not lost the attendance.

Khushi: No problem, I must thank you instead.

"What?" chorused others.

Khushi (sweating) : Uhmm... actually I had a good time with you all. This moment won't come again right?( eyeing him)

Nayantara: If you insist this moment would come daily.

Khushi smiled at the cliché.

Khushi didn't know when the hour ended as she kept staring at him and they all went inside. While going home, Khushi sees a beautiful park and imagined the guy and her spending time on the bench. Khushi comes back to reality and curses herself. But again she gets lost imagining herself to be on his arms, holding his hands. She came back home and closed the door blushing. He was eyeing her. What a beautiful moment. In fact, she must thank this group. They were her lucky charm. The first time she saw him, was with this group. Now, it's because of them she could discover that he plays cricket with his friends during the break hours. She then goes in front of the mirror and notices how much she went red. She was smiling without any reason. Then she remembers to try the login part. She snaps her forehead. Then she tries all the possibilities of her year minus two with the date. Only in vain she could discover that every try gave her a "wrong data".

The next day was the most beautiful day in Khushi's life. As the break bell rang, her heart beat so fast. She was about to submit her assignment in the staff room and to her surprise, she saw the guy. Her heart beat really fast this time. There were a lot of people, so the teacher asked them to stand in a queue. To her utter surprise and surmise, the guy came standing behind her. It was not only Khushi who got nervous but it was also him. She could feel his loud breathes on her shoulder neck. This made Khushi wince. She got all red. Then he brushed his shoulder on her hand. Khushi's eyes went wide. For, the first time she felt him. He then muttered " sorry" in her ears. But to his amazement it turned to be a chorus. The sorry came out from Khushi's mouth as well. Khushi met his eyes and said nothing more. He was totally lost in her. He kept staring at all the features she had. Her neck was milky white, her eyes were so bright, her cheeks were red because of his effect on her. They both were lost in each other's eyes much that when the lecturer called her, only then she came back to her present. She completed her work and went away. While going away, she saw the guy's chin and eyebrows. It was not Arnav's. The touch he made was not Arnav's touch. It was different so she was 90% sure that it was not Arnav. The guy while coming back from the staff room was smiling to himself which wasn't missed by Khushi. She started feeling her heartbeat. Was he imagining her? Was he feeling the same way she did? Then she thought vaguely. She mustn't commit the same mistake again. She mustn't misjudge people's actions as happened in her past. Her past!!! She wished that it wouldn't have happened! She badly needed a pill which would make her forget her past. A pill that the doctor would prescribe so that she could eat it with milk and sleep. When she wakes up, she is a new Khushi with all her past forgotten.

The bell rang and Khushi was going home. She prefers walking so she walks to her house. But her world was about to change within minutes. Then she notices two boys behind her, walking at the same pace as she did. She makes sure that she sees them from her side ways. One she definitely knew was Arnav's look alike (Ala). The next one was the guy who was saying something to him when he was playing cricket.

Guy: Hey ! go and tell her

Khushi's heart was pounding but she didn't dare to turn.

Ala (Arnav's look alike) : Shhh...

Khushi waddled faster. She wanted him to talk to her, she didn't as well.

Guy: Hey please that just tell her. Just Go. Nothing will happen.

Khushi:"Devi maiyya Devi Maiyya,Devi Maiyya Devi Maiyya Devi Maiyya,Devi Maiyya Devi Mai...."

Ala: Oh hello!

Khushi has her eyes similar to orbs. She turns around nervously. She gathered courage. His voice was mannish.

Khushi: ya?

Ala: Uhm.. you are in the same department right? I mean B.com?

Khushi: Yeah! I guess even you are from the same department. Your id card says you are elder to me by a year.

Ala: Yeah.. I'm Venkat Sharma. (extending his hand) You?

Khushi gasped. Venkat Sharma! Huff! It's not Arnav. I was waiting for ages to know this name. Venkat Sharma! The name! I couldn't sleep day and night.

Khushi: I'..I'm Khushi kumari Gupta.

(Huff! Atlast Ala got a name! It had sounded girlish!)

Venkat ( with eyes still): Nice one...!

Khushi's heart hit a six.

Venkat: Uhm..! So? Where are you from?

Khushi (eyeing him) : Jalpari High school.

It sounded weird. She felt as if she was talking to Arnav. It was like Arnav had asked from which school she was from. Well at least this guy sounds so sweet as well as respectful. She liked him. Had Devi Maiyya given her this guy instead of Arnav? Uhhhhggg! Stop thinking Khushi....!

Venkat: Oh! I don't know but most of my classmates are from that school.

Khushi: So, where are you from?

Venkat : So? What about a coffee...