Chapter Two

Wanting to know her was easy to say, but not easy to do, and that was what Arnav Singh Raizada realized. He had tried to talk to her the next day, but for some reason, he just couldn't  From one day turned to another. From another day turned to a week. From another week turned into a month. From another month- well, you get the idea.

And from doing so, it reached to the end of the first semester.

Oh come on Arnav, he yelled in his head. For crying out loud, you’re Arnav Singh Raizada and you can charm the ladies without even wanting to. So talk to the girl!

Taking a deep breath, Arnav relaxed and let his shoulders ease. He looked at Khushi and walked towards her. Khushi didn't have a clue and was reading another novel.

Arnav cleared his throat. “Excuse me?”

Khushi peered up from her book.

“May I sit here?”

Khushi looked at him like her face was saying “what da fuh?” but she recovered fast and moved her bag aside from the chair so Arnav could sit. Arnav gave a humble smile and sat beside her. Khushi went right back to her book and Arnav folded his hands like a little schoolboy and looked around. No one else was sitting near Khushi and people would keep looking up now and then, shocked that someone was sitting next to her.

Even the nerds were in shock.

Arnav looked away, feeling awkward and turned to Khushi. “What you reading?”

Khushi looked up, her cheeks red. Arnav scrunched his eyebrows and looked at her confused. She looked side to side and went back to her book. Arnav looked away and took a deep breath and tried again.

“Oh come on – it can’t be that bad?”

Khushi looked up again and looked straight forward. Arnav was looking at her and Khushi looked side to side again and then continued to read.

Come on Arnav, he encouraged himself. You can do this! “Can it?”

Khushi put the book down, keeping her thumb in between to save her page, and looked at him. “Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada…”

Arnav just dazed. Wow, he thought. My name sounds wonderful from her mouth.

“… This is a library. Here, you must stay quiet. So please, stop disturbing me.”

“Ssh,” the librarian hissed.

Khushi grabbed her bag, placed her bookmark in her book, and walked away. Arnav watched as she left and he sighed heavily.

Damn, he thought. I can’t even talk to a girl. Yet I've spoken to so many back in the city. He rested his chin in his hands. Am I losing my charm? He sighed and rested his head on the table. Great! When I need it, that’s when it decides to fade away. Just. Great.

Arnav didn't bother to say anything the next few days, but he did continue to go to the library. Khushi now started to realize his presence - though I won’t lie she didn't exactly know before. She would feel the light breeze whenever he would walk in and would also feel the tingle on her neck, but never really cared much about it. She still didn't, but now she would look up, and every time she did, she always saw Arnav coming in.

He wouldn't sit next to her, but he would sit near her. One day he came in, desperately in need of studying, after telling Viren that he really needed to study.

Yes, Arnav was now friends- well I wouldn't say friends, but more like… pals, with Viren. Arnav had now become a part of the crew, and he was “tight” with Viren and Sheetal. Well, when it comes to Sheetal, she’s been hitting on him since day one. Though Arnav showed no signs of interest, that didn't stop Sheetal whatsoever.

Arnav had come in a little late into the period, so most of the seats were taken. Like Arnav, a lot of other students had cracked down to their books as well, and they were all studying and looking serious. But of course, there was always space around Khushi, and Arnav had no other option but to sit across her. Not that he was complaining, but he was hoping Khushi wouldn't mind.

Arnav sat and saw that Khushi was reading another novel. He recalled Sheetal saying how she had gotten in by full scholarship and that she was a “nerd.” Arnav actually liked that about her. How many girls do you see these days that only care about education and nothing else. She had a powerful posture always, taking control of herself and not letting anything tear her down. But it was always her eyes that gave away everything. Arnav had noticed the difference from the way she was with her eyes. She looked all normal and tough, but her eyes held all her sorrow. There was always this shine to her eyes, and it always seemed to Arnav that she would crumble any second.

But he wouldn't allow that.

Arnav went back to his books and within three minutes, he sighed in frustration. Khushi peeked up from her book and looked at him. He looked so frustrated, Khushi couldn't help but to have a little curve appear at her lips. Arnav went through his bag and got his iPhone out and began to listen to music. Another three minutes later, he blew his hair out of his face from frustration and buried his face in his hands. When he revealed his face, his face looked crossed and Khushi stifled a laugh. Arnav looked up at her and Khushi pursed her lips to stop herself from laughing. She had to try so hard, she had to bite her lip. Arnav eyeballed her biting her lip and a manly desire erupted.

I wanna bite that lip, he said in his head.

Khushi didn't understand his expression and thought he was getting angry and controlled herself. “Sorry,” she said in a low voice. “I didn't mean to laugh.”

Arnav got dragged back to earth. “No. It’s okay.”

Khushi slightly shook her head and returned to her book. Arnav sighed and went back to studying, but couldn't for long. He shut his book out of frustration, making Khushi jump up from her book. Her eyes were wide and she hid behind the book, scared.

“Oh, I didn't mean to frighten you,” Arnav said softly.

Khushi nodded and peered over. “What are you studying for?”

“For Professor Yamini.”

“Really? You need to study for that?”

Arnav looked side to side. “Well, yeah. I mean I wanna be a business man so…. Why? You don’t think I don’t need to study?”

Khushi shook her head. “It’s not that. I mean, I've seen articles in the town’s newspaper and how you've studied business in the city. Even abroad.”

Arnav was surprised. She knows about me, he asked in his head. “Well, yeah, but I want to have a perfect grade in this class – to prove to myself that I can be a successful business man. That will keep me on task and will remind me to always do my best, you know, as an influence.”

Khushi nodded. “I see…. Well, best of luck Mr. Raizada.”

“Please, don’t call me that. That would be my dad.”

Khushi smiled lightly. “Okay... then best of luck… Arnav.”

The way Khushi said his name, made Arnav’s heart flutter.

That’s not normal, he said in his head, a bit scared, not to mention.

“Um, well, if you’d like,” Khushi said in a small voice, “I… I could help you?”

“Are you offering me or questioning yourself,” he lightly smirked at her shyness.

Khushi crimsoned. “I… I,” she stuttered.

Arnav gave a low chuckle and Khushi just looked at him in daze.

He’s laughing, she said in her head. And… it sounds nice.

She smiled a soft smile and Arnav looked at her with a smile on his face as well. The two just looked at each other for who knows how long, and then Arnav’s phone vibrated, making the whole table vibrate. The two broke away and Arnav looked at his text from Viren, about some party. Arnav agreed to it and looked at Khushi.

“So,” he began slowly, “you gonna help me study?”

Khushi looked at him and nodded slowly. Arnav dragged his chair over to her and Khushi helped him study. While studying, Arnav would get caught off and would look at Khushi in daze. The way she spoke, the way her hair flowed, the way her eyes would gleam time to time, and then would show that bit of sadness. It would make Arnav’s heart pit and he couldn't help but wonder what it could be that was making Khushi so down.

Eventually, the period was over and their study session - or should I say date - was over. They split and Arnav couldn't help but wonder:

Why does she always have sorrow in her eyes?