As I walked into the class, I was left surprised by two things today. Firstly, Khushi was in class, that too earlier than me which had never happened I think and secondly, Nina was seated with her instead of her usual place which was beside me.

When did this even happen?

In fact, both Nina and Khushi were busy talking about something which seemed really interesting that they dint even notice me when I walked in class, they were just engrossed in their story so I headed to my usual place and settled down waiting for the class to begin.

Why was Nina sitting with Khushi today and not me?

And then it clicked, Nina and I had decided to make new friends when we went for the movie, and it looks like she decided to be friends with Khushi, what was surprising was that Khushi wasn't mean or rude to her, they both seemed to be getting along pretty well.

I was happy for Nina, at least she found a new friend, the only friend I ever had was Rish and now he was no more my friend, I dint even know who to be friends with.

Soon the lectured walked in and the classes began, I pulled out my notebook out of my bag ready to note down notes when something hit my back, I turned around and saw Nina smiling at me brightly as she waved at me.

I waved back at her with a smile and then looked at Khushi who was also looking at me, but she dint smile so I just turned away, maybe she was angry on me for the stupidity I had done, she should be, I wasn't complaining.

After the first class ended, I grabbed my books and decided to head to the library as I had an hour before my other class so I figured I'd sit in the library and read.

I walked out of the classroom and climbed the stairs when I heard Nina call me, I stopped and waited for her while she climbed the stairs too.

"Hey, where are you running away?" She asked.

"Nowhere, just to the library, I don't have another class until an hour later so I wanted to read." I said.

"Oh, I thought you were angry on me or something, so just checking up. Are we okay?"

"Why would you think we aren't?"

"I don't know, maybe because today I dint sit with you and sat with Khushi instead, trying to be friends with her." She looked at me nervously.

"We are okay Nina, and if you two are getting along well you should really be friends, I'm sure you wouldn't find a friend better than her. Now don't worry about me I'm cool about everything, so see you later?"

"Sure, bye." She said as she headed back excitedly.

Khushi was definitely the popular girl, she had a lot of friends and a lot of people wanting to be her friends, but no one had really seen her the way I had, and all I could see was how lonely she was despite having all this friends, I don't think any of them were really close to her even.

So maybe she could be close with Nina because both of them were really great, I'm sure they would get along well too.

*****

I had been so engrossed in reading I dint even realize it was the time for my next class, thanks to my watch, it beeped at the right time so I stood up and headed out of the library.

I was just about to descend the staircase when I had some sounds, I took two steps down and saw Khushi standing in between in the second row with a guy, she was standing leaning to the wall and the guy was standing opposite her, trying to lean closer to her.

He was also touching her face, trying to tuck her hair behind her ear and she was talking to me happily. I don't know why it was so difficult for me to understand this girl and her feelings.

Did she even feel anything for me or she was actually speaking the truth when she said she dint feel a thing for me?

Calm down Arnav! Stop being jealous!

Before I could decide on what I wanted to do, whether head back to the library or just pass by them, she saw me so I just pretended not to care as I descended the staircase and walked away trying to pretend this dint hurt.

Oh God! Why did it have to hurt so much?

I mean why was it hurting so much now? It wasn't like it was the first time I was seeing her with a guy, she was Khushi, she went out with guys, no big deal.

Once I was done descending the staircase I leaned to the nearest wall and tried to take in some deep breaths to calm myself down, why was this hurting me so much right now? My eyes were getting moist, I dint want to cry.

"It's okay Arnav, you are okay. You are strong." I said to myself inhaling deep breaths.

In the next moment, I saw Khushi leaning beside me, I was quite surprised that she decided to follow me.

"It hurts doesn't it Arnav. Seeing the person you love with someone else?" She asked.

"Are you trying to get revenge for what I did?" I looked at her in confusion.

"What? No Arnav! I am not playing any games here. I am just showing you the reality Arnav, this is me, the real me, the Khushi that goes out with random guys, the Khushi that can't stay with the same guy for long." She said.

I dint really get her, what was she trying to do?

"You remember the first time I talked to you Arnav? Me trying to force you to write my notes?" She asked with a smile on her face, I just nodded, how could I forget that day, it was when she noticed that I existed, otherwise I was just invisible to her.

"I don't even know why I did that actually, but I guess I shouldn't have. If I never tried to talk to you, everything would be fine." She said.

"If you're talking about this in regard to my feelings then let me tell you Khushi, I've had a crush on you since I know you, so it doesn't matter." I said.

"I know." She smiled.

"You knew?"

"Yes Arnav, I am not dumb. I've always noticed how you've looked at me since school." She giggled.

"Why dint you ever talk to me then? I always thought you dint even know that I existed." I looked at her in surprise.

"Oh come on Arnav, I am not blind, we were literally in the same class, I just dint bother talking to you. Honestly I was never interested in you, I mean no offence but you were a nerd and not really my type, but since I gave you my notes to write and you refused, I dint even realize how you became my type." She sighed.

"Khushi." I looked at her in surprise once again, was the day I had been waiting for all along finally here?

"I am done running away from my feelings or hiding them from you Arnav because let's both accept the truth, it's visible. I know how much you love me Arnav, I really do and since I've met you, I've started realizing that I always judged you based on your dressing and looks I mean you were the nerd so you were supposed to be boring and all, but what I dint see was how true your feelings for me were.

I thought I could do with ignoring them, but every time I was with you, you always left me wondering why you would like me so much for so long, I mean look at me, I wouldn't like me either, but you did, despite knowing everything good and bad about me.

I really don't have an exact time or moment on how and when it happened, I just know it did and one day I woke up feeling different for you, maybe it was all those drives where you dropped me home, maybe it was when I visited you and Anju, or maybe it was when I kissed you mistakenly for the first time.

I mean I've met the best of the kissers but something about you kissing me that day was different, it was passionate and full of love and I couldn't stop myself from wanting to kiss you again and again, although I did a pretty amazing job in hiding it." She smiled.

"Where are you going with this Khushi?" I asked.

She looked at me, moved a bit closer and held my hand into hers as she looked at me in the eyes.

"I am trying to tell you that I am in love with you Arnav, it's the first time I'm feeling such a strong emotion for someone and it's beautiful and scary at the same time.

I am not telling you about this so that we can be together, I am telling you this so I can give you peace Arnav, I know Kabir already told you that I feel for you and there is no point of me pretending anymore, so I am telling you this myself, so that you stop looking for answers and stop doing things like trying to make me jealous, in short just stop trying.

Arnav, it's because I love you so much that I don't want to hurt you, but look at me, I'm the girl who doesn't even last with a boyfriend for more than three months, how can you expect me to last a lifetime with you?" She asked.

"Because you just said it Khushi, because you love me. you dint last with those boyfriends because you dint love them, it was just casual dating." I looked at her hopefully, why couldn't she understand such a simple thing?

"My dad loved my mom too Arnav, look where that brought them to."

"Just because your dad did something doesn't mean you would do it, he is your father Khushi he isn't you. I am so tired of you looking down upon yourself, why can't you for once just look at yourself in a different light, the way I see you.

Since we've became friends did you even think of going out with any other guy? Because I haven't seen you with anyone at all. You know why Khushi, because you love me, that love you have makes you want to be with me and me only.

So for once, look at yourself like I look at you and believe in yourself that you wouldn't do what your dad did and that you are you and he is just your father not you. You might be like him but you aren't him.

All I want is for you to think positive about yourself for once Khushi, and try to give this a shot, why are you hurting the both of us when you know we can be happy together?" I asked.

She dint say a word, she just stood there silently having no answer to my questions.

"You can take you time and think about what I said Khushi, I'll let you be." I sighed as I walked away from her.