ArShi FF: Fragmented Colors

Chapter 7: Ember

Days swiftly turned into lingering weeks, time falling into a pleasing pattern of companionship. Brewing coffee made way to endless conversation, ensued laughter and gave birth to memories and feelings that rooted deeper with each passing moment. For the two who caught themselves in a helpless attraction, the past few weeks had made it much more than just that. They often sat for hours in their free time, talking about anything and everything until the lights dimmed inside the little shop. Someone would always come and quietly remind them of the closing time, smiling at the two, and they would always glance at each other, only then realizing how late it was.

After one such date, the evening breeze touches warm from the rolled down car windows as they breeze through the open roads. Khushi gazes at him unhurriedly, her heart fluttering at the way the wind plays with the waves of his hair. He pushes the brakes on a traffic light, taking the opportunity to increase the volume on the radio, bopping his head to the rhythm.

"Bon Jovi, Living on a Prayer? Really?" Khushi giggles, tapping her foot.

Arnav looks at her and gives her a smile that weakens her knees before his eyes go back on the road, his lower lip in between his teeth. He then starts belting out the chorus passionately in tuneless notes as Khushi cracks up, clapping her hands in uncontrolled laughter. She joins in, and the two sing along without a care in the world. She doesn't know what it is about this moment, but watching him tilt his head back when hitting those high notes, she has never been happier. Every ounce of guilt seems to wash away as an immense amount of hope fills her, and she grins ear to ear. After a few minutes of off-key singing, the audio shuts off all of a sudden, and they look at each other in confusion. Arnav presses a few random buttons on the radio system in an effort to fix it, when Khushi abruptly starts chuckling.

"I think Bon Jovi couldn't stand how melodious our voices were," She says, in an effortfully serious tone.

Arnav lets out a laugh and pulls into the campus parking lot, surprised at how short the drive felt.

"You go on, I'll try to fix this thing and join you,"

"Arnav, you know you don't always have to drop me till my room. It's right here, I'll go by myself," Khushi shakes her head.

"I know I don't have to. I want to," Comes the soft reply, to which she looks down and moves a stray piece of hair behind her ears.

Khushi nods and starts walking towards the halls, his words, his eyes, his smile on her mind. The night sky is a deep blue, the surroundings vacant.

"Well, well. Who do we have here?"

She turns around to the direction of the unfamiliar voice, eyebrows furrowed in alertness. The person looks grungy at first sight, his posture almost seeming inebriated. Khushi's eyes shift around to look for Arnav, who is nowhere to be seen.

The man walks sluggishly towards her with leering eyes.

"What's a pretty girl like you doing out late at night alone?" He circles around her painfully slow, ogling her figure.

Khushi's stares at her feet that are somehow stuck to the ground in panic, her breathing rapid.

"Get the hell away,"

She looks up to find Arnav standing a few feet away, his jaw clenching visibly. She had never seen an expression so livid on his features before, and it startled her in a way.

The man cackles, going to stand in front of Arnav, a hand in the pocket of his ripped jeans while the other scruffs his matted beard nonchalantly.

"What a lucky b*stard you are," He scoffs.