(Outside Arpita's home)

Kriti: (in mind: Thank god finally pohonch gaye Arpita ke ghar... Ab meri bhook control se bahar ho rahi hai.. yaar bhook nahi hoti mujhse control.. kya karuu..??)

(Karan presses the horn and Arpita comes out of the home. Karan takes all the notes and gets off the car. Arpita hugs him tightly. She looks to be a charming girl and a happy soul)

Karan: ab kaisi hai tu?

Arpita: very fine..!! Tu bata tu kaisa hai?

Karan: Absolutely stunning... As always!! Waise tu bata uss macchar se milne aise kaha gayi thi ki dengue saath le aayi?

Arpita: Come on yaar.. mai kya use invite karke laayi hu? Kuch bhi matlab.. waise I am really very sorry.. meri vajah se tujhe itna dur aana pada...

Karan: koi baat nahi yaar.. come on.. agar jaroorat ke samay kaam na aaye to wo dost jhoota aur wo dosti farzi.. samjhi?

Arpita: tu aur teri baatein.. I missed you soo muchh.. itne dino se gharpe itna bore ho raha hai na.. roz wahi dawai, wahi injection, wahi log aur tv pe wahi channels.. I am fed up!! Ab kuch padhai karungi to wahi change sahi..

Karan: life mein change ke liye padhai karne wala insaan maine aaj tak nahi dekha.. I swear on that!!

Arpita: and how's life treating you?

Karan: honestly.. pata nahi yaar.. I don't understand aakhir ho kya raha hai meri life mein.. tu wapas aayegi to detail mein baay karenge.. lekin in general it's quiet well!

(She noticed a girl sitting in the car)

Arpita: Hey.. isn't that your sister?? Kya naam tha.. yaa.. Khushi!! Ye Khushi hai na? Milvaega nahi apni behen se?

Kriti: (in mind: Sister? Like seriously? Yaha mai bhook se mari jaa rahu hu, dimaag ka dahi ho raha hai, inki baatein khatam nahi ho rahi aur madam ne mujhe Karan ki behen bhi declare kar diya? Amazing!!)

Karan: What?? Sister? No no no..!! Jara chill maar yaar.. ye Khushi nahi hai aur meri behen to bilkul nahi hai.. Kriti.. bahar aao na..

Arpita: Ohh.. girlfriend? Woww.. She's beautiful yaar..
(Kriti comes out of the car)

Karan: Arpiii.. behen nahi hai to direct girlfriend? Hadd hai matlab.. Kriti.. Khushi ki best friend hai jise mai gharpe drop karne jaa raha hu.. that's it..

Arpita: Oops.. sorry yaar.. lekin you guys look cute together.. isliye I thought.. accha chal anywayss.. Hi Kriti.. (forwards hand for handshake) Mai Arpita Mehra... Karan ki classmate aur reasonably kaafi acchi dost.. (Karan gives her a look and she holds one ear and shows little tongue out of fun and Kriti shakes hand with her)

Kriti: Hel.. Hello.. Krit.. Kriti Singha..nia!

Arpita: Kriti Singhania? By any chance tum Yash Singhania ko jaanti ho? As far I remember uski bhi behen thi.. uska bhi naam Kriti tha..

Kriti: Haa.. lekin aap mere bhai ko kaise jaanti ho?

Arpita: tum wahi ho? I am soo happy to meet you Kriti.. (she hugs Kriti) bohot suna tha tumhare baare mein.. Actually mai aur Yash school days mein gymnastics class mein saath the.. we were best of friends.. maine 10th ke liye class chhod diya.. tab wo shayad 8th mein hoga.. aur uske baad hamara contact bhi khatam ho gaya.. na hamare paas ek dusre ka number tha na koi aur medium baat karne ka.. uss jamane mein hamare paas Phones nahi hua karte the naa.. 6 saal ho gaye yaar use aakhri baar mile.. kaisa hai wo?

Kriti: he is good.. infact mai, Yash, Khushi hum bhi aap hi ke college mein hai..

Arpita: Wow.. that's greatt!!

Kriti: aapko number de du uss bandar ka?

Arpita: Neki aur puch puch.. de naa..
(Kriti shares Yash's number with Arpita)
Waise to mai use call nahi karne wali.. college mein milke surprise dungi!!

Kriti: Perfecttt!! Wo bohot khush hogaa..

Karan: umm.. ek kaam karte hai.. mai jara paas wale Café mein jaake baithta hu.. tum dono ki baatein vaatein araam se puri ho jaaye to bula lena.. what say?

Arpita: Shut up Karan!! Kriti.. it was pleasure meeting you.. kasam se..

Kriti: aap.. aapse bhi mil..ke bo.. bohot accha laga..

Arpita: phir milenge..
(Kriti sits in the car)
Karan.. come on yaar.. mujhe dost bhi bolta hai aur mere saamne girlfriend ko behen ki bestfriend batata hai.. not fair yaar..

Karan: Oyee.. I am serious..!!

Arpita: pata hai.. lekin tujhe nahi lagta she has a majorrr crush on you? Aur tujhe bhi wo bohot pasand hai.. ban mat ab please.. itna to jaanti hu yaar mai tujhe..

Karan: Arpii.. jab tu kuch soch leti hai na tujhse behes karne ka koi fayda nahi hai.. I should just leave I guess.. you take care.. acche se padh aur exam de.. College mein milenge phir..

Arpita: hmm.. you should definitely leave.. aur meri salah maan.. take her to some place nice.. saath mein baithke kuch khao piyo.. aur phir jab mai college wapas aaungi na tab baat karenge tumhari behen ki best friend ke baare mein.. (laughing)

Karan: tu pagal hai.. byee!! And take care..

Arpita: I will.. tu uska khayal rakh..

Karan: ok.. I am done! Byee!

Arpita: Byee..
(He hugs her and then sits in the car. She leaves too)

Kriti: (in mind: oh god.. ab bohot pet dukh raha hai.. I can't control hunger.. pet se start hoke pura body pain shuru ho jaata hai.. upar se ghar se itna dur aa gaye hai ki jaate jaate ek ghanta lag jaayega.. yaar I can't take this..)

(Karan was starting the car when his phone rings and he picks it up)

Karan: ha Khushi bol..

Khushi: kaha hai tu? Mujhse kitna pehle nikla tha.. abhi tak wapas kaise nahi aaya? Dadi ko kya bolu mai?

Karan: Are actually meri ek dost hai uske kuch books dene the... abhi ghar ke liye hi nikal rahe hai.. ek ghanta lag jayega abhi aur..

Khushi: Nikal rahe hai matlab? Kriti tere saath hai ab bhi?

Karan: haa

Khushi: Damn it.. Matlab wo ab tak bhukhi hai.. aur mai soch rahi thi madam khaana wana khake so gayi hogi abhi tak..

Karan: Kya bol rahi hai?

Khushi: Listen Karan.. use medical issues hai.. usne subah se kuch nahi khaaya aur wo bhukhi nahi reh sakti.. use unbearable body pain shuru ho jaata hai.. doctor ne uski eating habit strictly monitor karne ko bola hai.. Please ease use kuch khila de and make sure she eats pet bharke.. college se nikalte vaqt hi use bohot bhuk lagi thi lekin ghar hi jaana tha isliye she decided to go home and eat aur tune abhi tak use chhoda hi nahi hai gharpe

Karan: Are to batana chahiye tha na.. accha ok.. dekhta hu mai.. bye!

Khushi: Bye..

(He looks at her and tries to analyse her expressions)

Karan: Kritii.. all ok?

Kriti: Yaa.. ab.. absolutely.. (sarcastically in mind: I am everything but ok right now.. ughh)

Karan: sure?

Kriti: ya.. (in mind: aise kyu puch raha hai.. neri bhook itni evident hai kya chehre pe?)

Karan: sach batau? I am not at all ok.. bohot bhook lagi hai aur ghar bohot dur hai.. kahi jaake pehle thoda kha le kya? Pleasee...

Kriti: yaaa.. sure...!! Why not? (With Excitement which she tries hard to not show on face)

(They reach the Café. Karan gets a flashback of what Arpita said to him to take her out and an unknown mysterious smile comes on his face. He steps down and opens door for Kriti)
Karan: Come..

(She gets down and they go to the Café. His gentleman behaviour continues as he pulls chair for her and makes her sit comfortably)

Kriti: order?

Karan: tum karo..

Kriti: m.. mai? Tu.. tumhe bhook lagi thi.. na..?

Karan: mujhe to lagi hai lekin I am sure tumhe bhi lagi hai.. order something.. I am fine with it..

(She orders and there was an awkward silence until the food arrives. She starts eating and he starts having food too)

Karan: Kriti.. mujhe tumhari thodi help chahiye hai.. karogi?

Kriti: m.. meri he..lp? Le.. lekin kis liye?

Karan: actually it's about Khushi.. kal raat se kuch to hua hai use.. raat ko ro rahi thi aur subah se something is bothering her.. kuch to major hua hai I am sure.. agar tunhe iss baare mein kuch bhi pata hai to please please mujhe batao..

Kriti: Mai bhi nahi jaanti.. aaj maine bhi notice kiya aur kaafi baar pucha bhi but she is not ready to speak up.. aur kal raat ke baare mein bhi nahi pata mujhe.. honestly aaj maine aur Yash ne bohot baar pucha use but in vain...

Karan: hmm.. wapas try karogi? I am trying my best lekin tum uski best friend ho.. shayad tumse share kare wo..

Kriti: I will.. I am also worried about her mood today...
(Unknowingly she keeps her hand on his to comfort him)

(Dadi was passing by the Café as she was going to temple and she looks Kriti's hand on his and his unconscious smile. Kriti soon realises and pulls her hand back and they start eating)

Dadi: Karan Kriti ke saath.. yaha? Ghar se itna dur aur wo bhi akele? uss din bhi Karan ise dekh ke muskura raha tha.. kahi in dono ke beech kuch.. agar aisa hai to mera kaam to inhone bohot aasan kar diya.. ladki to badi pyaari aur acchi hai.. ek min.. lekin ye to wo kapde nahi hai jo Karan subah pehen ke gaya tha.. subah kurta aur abhi t-shirt? Aise kaise jo sakta hai.. puchna padega.. aur Kriti ke kapde.. gharpe to bade acche kapde pehenti hai.. ab kya ho gaya? Ghar pe jaake Karan ke kaan khichne padenge..

(Karan and Kriti finish their food and they leave. Karan continues to be chivalrous and soon he drops her home)

(At evening in Sharma house)

Dadi: Accha Karan.. ek baat bata.. tujhe koi ladki pasand hai? Koi girlfriend vagare?

Karan and Khushi: What???

Dadi: seedha sa sawal hai Karan.. tujhe kisiko pasand karta hai?

Karan: nahi dadi.. par aap ye kyu puch rahe ho?

Dadi: aisa kuch nahi.. bass ek kaam tha..

Kavin: maa aap kehna kya chahti ho?

Dadi: kuch nahi beta.. jaldi hi pata chal jayega..

Karan: whatever.. aise heartattack mat diya kari dadi.. accha waise Khushi.. teri practice kaisi chal rahi hai?

Khushi: bohot acchi.. Shiv is such a good dancer...

Karan: wo to hai..

Dadi: dance?

Khushi: ha.. wo maine college fest meim participate kiya hai na.. Shiv mera partner hai uss dance mein..

Dadi: Are waah.. ye to badi acchi baat hai.. aur kab hai tumhara te fest?

Karan: 6 din baad..

Dadi: thik hai phir.. fest ke baad mujhe tum dono se bohot important baat karni haii..

Purvi: aisi.. kaunsi baat karni ha maa?

Dadi: Wo baadme pata chal jayega.. accha Khushi.. teri dost hai na Kriti..

Khushi: ha..

Dadi: uski nani mujhe aaj garden mein mili..

Khushi: haa nani exercise ke liye garden to jaati hai lekin aapko kaise pata chala wo Kriti ki nani hai?

Dadi: bass waha mulakat hui aur dosti ho gayi... Maine use bataya tumhare baare mein to usne tumhe pehchan liya aur bataya ki tum uski naati Kriti ki sabse acche saheli ho..

Khushi: ohh accha.. badi jaldi dosti kar leti ho aap dadi.. aur ki bhi to meri saheli ke nani ke saath..

Dadi: (in mind: kitni puchtach karke Kriti ki nani ko dhoondha hai.. mere bacche ki khushi ke liye kuch bhi)

Purvi: accha ab tum dono jaake so jao.. kal college jana hai na?

Karan: Haa maa..

Dadi: Karan.. ek baat batao.. jab tum gaye tab kuch aur pehna tha aur wapas aaye tab kya pehen ke wapas aa gaye?

Karan: (in mind: oh freak! Kriti ko chhodne ke chakkar mein change karna to bhool hi gaya)
Wo dadi.. actually jab mai college gaya to kapdo par kisine coffee gira di.. to ek dost se lekar kapde change karne pade mujhe...

Dadi: Accha koi baat nahi.. aur Khushi.. ek baat bata.. teri wo dist Kriti.. wo Vilayati kapde pehenti hai?

Khushi: aisa.. kyu puch rahi ho dadi?

Dadi: Are wo uski nani ne aaj uske photo dikhaye na to kaafi photos mein vilayati kapde pehne hai usne

Khushi: ha dadi.. matlab roz nahi lekin kabhi kabhi pehenti hai wo western kapde.. ab aap use to nahi bol sakti na roz Indian pehenane ko..

Dadi: hmm.. thik hai..

Karan: accha dadi.. hum chalte hai.. subah jaldi uthna hai..
(They go to their rooms)

5 DAYS LATER...

(It's the day before the fest and everyone in collage is busy arranging something or the other. There is a chaos everywhere in the college)

Khushi: (in mind: aaj wo dono aane wale hai aur hamara plan bhi finally execute hone wala hai.. ab Karan Jealous bhi hoga aur Kriti ke liye apni feelings bhi realise karega.. meri aur Shiv ki kaafi acchi dosti bhi ho gayi hai lekin wo sach.. it is killing me!! Aur pata nahi upar se dadi ke dimaag mein kya nayi khichadi pak rahi hai.. aur upar se abhi tak mujhe uss ladke ka naam bho pata nahi chala.. fest ke baad dadi kuch batane wali hai.. kahi yahi baat to.. ohh god no.. I can't think about this.. abhi mujhe sirf aur sirf apni opening performance pe dhyaan dena hai.. jamke practice karni hai taki kal koi problem na ho stage pe sabke saamne.. concentrate Khushi!! Concentrate!!)

Kriti: (in mind: God.. pata nahi maine ye 5 din kaise nikale hai.. roz roz Khushi ke bhai ke saath jaake practice karna.. hawa tight ho jati hai meri.. aur upar se Khushi.. kitni koshish ki par nahi.. problem kya hai batati hi nahi and jyada takleef hoti hai kyuki I know use kuch to bother kar raha hai.. she is upset and I don't know why.. and of course meri nani.. pehle hafte mein ek ya do baar ghar aati thi aur aaj kal to har roz aa rahi hai aur pata nahi mom dad ke saath kya jhagda ho raha hai unka.. waise to she is very cool lekin aaj kal pata nahi kyu she wants to know everything about me.. kaha ja rahi hu, kyu ja rahi hu, kiske saath ja rahi hu.. what the hell is wrong with her? Anyways.. just forget about all this.. kal meri performance hai and I have to be confident.. Khushi ke bhai ko dekh ke nervous hona mai kal bilkul afford nahi kar sakti.. no ways!! Waise aaj Khushi kuch jyada hi khush lag rahi hai.. I am sure she is upto something.. lekin pata nahi kya.. let's see!)

Shiv: (in mind: pichle kuch dino mein mai aur Khushi kaafi acche dost ban gaye hai.. lekin I feel something is wrong with her... kuch khoyi khoyi si rehti hai.. soch raha hu ek baar Karan se baat karke dekhta hu.. waise aaj pata chala hai ki dadi bhi jaldi hi aane wali hai.. pata nahi kya hoga.. iss baar itni jaldi kaise aa rahi hai dadi? Aur upar se aaj wo dono flirts bhi to aane wale hai.. god knows ab aur kya kya dekhna baaki hai..)

To be continued...

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