Chapter 11: Secret Glances

"Beta, I don't think it would be a good idea to go to the movie theatre," Aarti said, "You're Nani, Dad, and me are also going to be out of town for the entire weekend because of a wedding we have to attend next week."

"Mom we weren't planning on going to an actual movie theatre, just the one that is in the basement," Anjali said.

"Oh, I totally forgot about that," Aarti said, "Then it's fine."

*next week*

"Khushi hurry up!" Lavanya said from outside the stall in the locker room. A few second later Khushi opened the door and came out wearing her uniform. It a cut sleeve dress that went till her mid thighs. Today was their first football game and that too at home. All the girls were in the locker room, changing, doing their hair and getting ready. Khushi put the clothes she had just taken off in her bag. Both of them went up to the mirror, and tied their hair in a high ponytail, since that was the requirement. Khushi took out her makeup bag, and applied eye shadow to match her uniform. They were the St. Teresa Tigers (totally made up by me).

"Hey Lavanya!" she called out.

"Yea?" Lavanya asked putting her things away also.

"Can you put this in our locker?" Khushi said handing the bag to her. Lavanya took the bag and went to her locker and put in their. The girls were required to share their gym locker with another cheerleader, so Khushi and Lavanya had decided that would share.

"Come on girls! Let's go!" the coach said entering the locker room. All of them put their things away and grabbed their pompoms. They made their way out to the field, all of the stands were pretty packed, obviously since it was the first game of the season. On one side of the field, were the supporters of her school; on the other side were the opposing team.

Khushi and Lavanya walked to the bench on their side of the field following all the other girls.

"Khushi!!!" they heard a scream from the stands as they sat down. Khushi and Lavanya looked back into the stands to see where the sound was coming from but couldn't figure out. Then they heard it again, "Khushi! Lavanya!"

The looked up a bit higher spotted from whom the sounds were coming from. There, Payal, Akash, Anjali and Shaleen were seated high in the stands waving to the both of them. They waved back with a smile. They heard the sound of a voice on the intercom and turned around to look at the field. All the players from both teams came out in their uniforms. The crowds cheered and applauded for their teams. The cheerleaders got up and started cheering for their teams, waving the pompoms in the air and screaming. Everyone got settled down, and the game began. The first few minutes of the game were kind of boring and not much to see. Number 12 from the other team was trying to make a touchdown, but number 9 from theirs stole the ball and made a touchdown for their team. The crowd got up and cheered. The player who had made the goal turned towards them and waved, Khushi looked around to see who he was waving at and founf Lavanya waving back at him.

"Who is that?" Khushi asked her.

"NK," she replied back, "see his jersey on the back says Sehgal, his last name."

Khushi looked up and noticed that also. She looked from jersey to jersey and spotted the one she was looking for, on the back it read Raizada. He had his back to her, and as if reading her mind, he turned around and looked towards her. Khushi quickly looked the other way, realizing that she had gotten caught string at him. Arnav had been standing there waiting for the next play to start when he felt a pair of eyes gazing him, he turned around and met his eyes with Khushi's. But like a deer who had been caught by headlights of a car, her eyes slightly widened and she looked the other way quickly, a pink color rising on her cheeks. So she was already looking at him, he thought and smiled to himself, not exactly knowing why it made him happy.

The game started again and was a hard competition between the two teams. Arnav made two touchdowns throughout the team. Once in awhile, Arnav would glance towards Khushi. A few times their eyes would meet and she would look away. The game ended an hour and half later, and they had won. The players went and shook hands with the players from the other team.

Khushi and Lavanya were really happy, along with the rest of the team. The students from the stands ran from their seats and went to the field congratulating the team. Either everyone had left from the stands or was in the middle of the field. Anjali, Shaleen, Payal and Akash had come down the stands and were standing next to Lavanya and Khushi. A few minutes later, Arnav and NK appeared from the crowd and were walking towards them. Lavanya ran up NK pulling him in for a hug and said, "Congrats!"

"Congrats Chotte!" Anjali said hugging him, "and to you too NK!" she said when Lavanya and NK were walking towards them holding hands.

"Thanks," both of them said.

"Congrats Bhai," Akash said patting him on the shoulder.

"Yea, you both did a great job," Shaleen said also hugging him. They all congratulated both of them and Arnav moved down the line as they did, and was now standing in front of Khushi.

"Congrats!" Khushi said with a bright smile and was about to bring her arms up to also hug him like everyone else, but then brought her arms down realizing what she was about to do. Arnav noticed this slight action of hers and smiled. He himself moved a step forward and wrapped his arms around her hugging her and chuckling. Khushi stood there shocked, what she wasn't going to do because of embarrassment, he ended up doing.

"You know you can hug me, you're my best friend," Arnav said into her ear and smiled.

Khushi hugged him back and said, "I know from now on."

They pulled away from the hug and smiled at each other. Arnav moved to the side and stood next to hers and said, "Di I think we should get going, the driver is probably waiting."

"Yeah, let's go. You both get your bags from the locker rooms then we can leave," Anjali said.

"Where did Lavanya go?" Khushi asked looking around trying to find her, she was going to walk with her to the locker room, but she was nowhere to be found.

"NK and Lavanya already left and said they would meet us at the front of the school," Payal said.

                         

"You all go to the front and call the driver, we'll meet you there after going to the locker room," Arnav said and they all left.

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Chapter 10: Making Plans

 

Arnav was sitting on a bench in the when Khushi came next to him and sat down. He noticed that her bowl of ice cream had two spoons in it.

"Why two?" he asked.

"Two what?" Khushi asked him.

"Spoons," Arnav said motioning towards the bowl of ice cream.

"Oh! One for you and one for me," Khushi said, "And don't worry I know you said you couldn't eat ice cream. So I asked the lady if she could make some sugar free, and she did make it, and this is all she could make."

She moved the bowl towards him and motioned him to take a spoon. Arnav took a spoon of ice cream and ate it, "It's good."

"But this is vanilla, didn't you want mint chocolate chip?" Arnav asked.

"Yea, but she said they couldn't make and sugar free on of that, so I just got this," Khushi said. They sat their eating the ice cream out of the same bowl, taking turns scooping it out. Arnav noticed NK and Lavanya walking together hand in hand.

"What's up with them?" Arnav asked Khushi. Khushi looked up where he was pointing and saw he was talking about NK and Lavanya.

"Oh well when you came outside from the ice cream shop, NK bought ice cream for Lavanya; and then asked her out," Khushi said.

"Hmmm, so he got enough courage to finally ask her," Arnav said.

"Finally?" Khushi asked.

"Yea, he's been telling me that he's liked her since last week when he saw her. He's been telling me that he wants to ask her, so I guess that he got the courage," Arnav said. They sat their silently and stared off into the sun that was setting above the pond.

"Hey guys! We're leaving, are you guys coming also?" NK asked them.

"Yea, we are," Arnav said and threw the empty bowl in the trash can that was right next to the bench. He got up and offered his hand to Khushi, she accepted it and also got up.

 

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Arnav was sitting at the dinner table with his family and eating. Anjali came down from upstairs and also joined them.

"What's for dinner Mom?" she asked sitting down.

"Rajma chawal," Aarti said to her daughter. Everyone was now eating their food and chatting away.

"How was your day kids?" Nani asked them.

"It was good," Anjali said.

"Yea, it was. I made it on the football team," Arnav said.

"Congrats son," Jiyten said to him.

"Yea congrats bitwa," Nani said. Everyone also congratulated him.

"Thanks everyone," Arnav said.

"So when do the practices start?" Akash asked.

"They start tomorrow after school," Arnav said.

"That means we'll have to arrange for the driver to pick you up later, right?" Aarti asked him.

"Yea, but I've spoken with NK, and his dad said that there driver will be able to give me a ride home. They just got settled into their new home, so they got a driver," Arnav said, "If you guys don't have a problem with that, then I can just do that."

"Yea that's fine, as long it's no problem with them," Jiyten said.

"Ok, thanks," Arnav said.

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"Mom!" Arnav said walking into the house the next day after school. It was Friday so NK had decided to come over.

"Kya hua beta (What happened son)?" Aarti said from the living room. She saw Arnav approaching her along with another boy coming; he seemed about the same age as Arnav.

"Mom, this is my friend NK, the one who I had told you about, from Australia," Arnav said motioning to NK.

"Hello beta," Aarti said.

"Hi Auntyji," NK said.

"So how do you like India so far?" Aarti asked him.

"It's nice, but bohut buddhia hai," NK said.

"Buddhia hai?! But there are young people here too," Aarti said trying to clarify him.

"He meant bardhiaa Mom, not buddhia," Arnav told his mom, "His Hindi is a bit messed up."

"Yea yea vahi, bardhiaa hai," Nk said.

"Oh, accha phir teek hai (Oh, it's fine)," Aarti said.

"Mom, we're going to go in the back and place basket ball," Arnav said.

"Ok teek hai," Aarti said. Arnav and NK made their way to his backyard, which had a basketball hoop to one side of it. Arnav grabbed the ball that was lying on the grass and through it to NK.

"Nice house you've got," Nk said.

"Thanks," Arnav said. Nk took the ball and through it in the basket and Arnav gabbed it when it came back down bouncing on the ground. They took turns throwing it and playing with it while talking with one another.

"So you finally asked her?" Arnav asked NK.

"Who?" Nk asked.

"You know exactly who I'm talking about, Lavanya," Arnav said.

"Yea I did. But wait! How do you know?" Nk asked grabbing the ball from Arnav.

"Yea and apparently when you asked her, Khushi was also standing there and heard you guys, so she told me," Arnav said.

"Oh I forgot, she was also there," Nk said and snatched the ball out of his hands when Arnav was about to shoot.

"Hey! Give that back!" Arnav said chasing after him. NK took the ball and shot it into the hoop, but missed.

"Haha, that's what you get," Arnav said quickly grabbing the ball before he could. They both left the backyard and started walking back into the house. It was getting pretty late outside and dark. Nk came downstairs and was about to leave, but the driver said he wouldn't be able to come till an hour because off traffic. So the family invited him to have breakfast with them, and he agreed.

"Chotte isn't your first football game next week?"

"Yup, we have our first football game," NK said.

"Yea, it's also Di's birthday," Arnav said.

"It is?" NK asked and looked up at Anjali. She nodded and smiled.

"Yea. She said she's going to come to the game, then celebrate," Arnav said.

"And I want to celebrate with everyone, so you have to come NK," Anjali said.

"But what am I going to do at a girl's party?" NK asked.

"It's not just a girls party. We're going to watch a movie in the theatre. Akash, Arnav and Shaleen are also coming, so you should come also," Anjali said.

"Ok, I will," NK said, "Anyone else coming'.?"

Arnav understood who he was talking about and said, "If you're asking about Lavanya, then yes, she is also coming."

"Yea she is, and Khushi and Payal," Anjali said.

"Beta, I don't think it would be a good idea to go to the movie theatre," Aarti said, "You're Nani, Dad, and me are also going to be out of town for the entire weekend because of a wedding we have to attend next week."

"Mom we weren't planning on going to an actual movie theatre, just the one that is in the basement," Anjali said.

"Oh, I totally forgot about that," Aarti said, "Then it's fine."

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Chapter 9: The Beginning of Something New

 

Khushi got inside the house and turned around, "Bye. Thanks for dropping me off."

"No problem. I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight," Arnav said with a smile. He turned away ran to catch up with his siblings.

Khushi went inside and noticed her parents were already asleep. She went up into her room and took a shower then changed into her night clothes. She looked at herself in the mirror and her hand went to the spot where Arnav had pecked her on the cheek. She smiled to herself; maybe she was beginning to like him also.

Over the time of a week, Arnav and Khushi had become better friends. Arnav would still walk with her to their first bell, then to her second class also. Neither of them complained or said anything about, it just got into routine and they did it without noticing. Lavanya and NK had also joined their entire group when they ate lunch, and everyone got to know each other better.

It was the end of the day and Khushi was getting her stuff out of her locker. Lavanya and her were going to walk over to the ice cream parlor that was nearby.

"Hey!" Lavanya said as Khushi closed her locker.

"Hey," Khushi replied back, "Let's go."

"Yea, but let's check the list for the cheerleading team to see if we made it or not," Lavanya said while they stepped down the stairs.

"Oh yea! The list was going to be posted outside the gym today," Khushi said. Both of them walked over to the gym. When they got their there was already a crowd of boys and girls standing their looking at the results for both the cheerleading and football team.

"Lavanya maybe we should come back later, it's so crowded here," Khushi said looking at the crowd.

"No, you stay here and I'll go check," Lavanya said making her way into the group of people with great difficulty. Khushi stood there waiting for her to come out and she felt a familiar presence near her.

"Hi," she heard a husky voice behind her. She turned around to find Arnav standing there, "Hey."

"Checking to see if you made it to the team?" Arnav said walking up to Khushi and standing beside her.

"Yea, Lavanya went to go check. You here to check also?" Khushi said.

"I'll be right back," Arnav said and he went up to where the list was to check for his name. A few minutes later Lavanya appeared from the crowd while talking to NK.

"So'?"Khushi asked when they approached her.

"You made the team!" Lavanya said hugging quickly Khushi.

"And you'?" Khushi asked as they pulled away from the hug.

"And'I made the team also!!!" Lavanya said excitedly. This time Khushi was the one who attacked Lavanya and hugged.

"Ohmygosh!!! I'm so happy!!!" Khushi said with excitement.

"I know!! Now we can go to practices together and everything," Lavanya said.

"So did you make the team?" Khushi looked up at NK and asked him.

"Yea, I did," NK said smiling.

"Yay! Well congrats!" Khushi said.

"This totally calls for a celebration!" Lavanya said and then looked at Khushi, "I asked NK to come along with us also to have ice cream, is that ok with you?"

"Yea, of course. Why would I mind?" Khushi said, "Let's go."

"Woah! Woah! Wait! I totally forgot that I'm hanging out with Arnav today," NK said, "So I don't think that I can come."

"Go where?" a voice came from behind NK and he turned around to find Arnav there.

"Well, Khushi and Lavanya are going to get ice cream and they also invited me. But I forgot that I was hanging out with you," NK said.

"So? We can all go together," Arnav said.

"Yea, we can all go," Lavanya said. They all walked together to the front of the school and walked out. The exited the gates of the school and were now walking on the sidewalks. Lavanya walked next to NK and was chatting with him, leaving Khushi and Arnav to trail behind them.

"So did you make the team?" Arnav asked Khushi.

"Yea, I did. Did you?" Khushi asked.

"I made it also," Arnav said, "Congrats to you."

"You also," Khushi said.

"AH! Congrats Arnav!" NK said stopping and turning around to high five him.

"Yea congrats!" Lavanya also said coming to walk next to Khushi.

"Thanks guys," Arnav said.

"Ab hum sabh dost ek haath honge," NK said.

"Haath nahi NK, saath," Khushi said correcting him.

"Yea yea, vahi vahi," NK said. All of them laughed. Ever since they had heard NK speak, everyone had come to the conclusion that his Hindi wasn't the best and he often made mistakes with pronunciation.

"So now we all are going to be together," Lavanya said as they turned the corner of the street.

"Yea. We'll be going to games together," Khushi said.

"ICE CREAM!!" NK yelled seeing the ice cream parlor come in sight. He ran towards it and left everyone behind.

"HEY!! Wait for me also!!" Lavanya said running after him into the parlor. Both Khushi and Arnav laughed at their friend craziness.

"They both are so alike," Arnav said laughing.

"Haha, yea they are," Khushi said. Arnav opened the door for Khushi when they reached the door, letting her go in before him. They found Lavanya and NK already standing in line.

"Come on guys," NK said when he saw both of them enter. Arnav and Khushi went to stand in line with them.

"So what do you guys want?" Lavanya asked looking at the menu that was hanging on the wall.

"I'm having an orange popsicle," NK said looking at the picture with a mouth watering face.

"I'm going to have mint chocolate chip," Khushi said.

"And Arnav tum?" Lavanya said.

"I don't want anything," Arnav said.

"What do you mean that you don't want anything?" Khushi said looking at him surprised.

"Well I CAN'T have anything," Arnav said trying to clarify himself.

"Can't?" NK said.

"Yea, I'm diabetic," Arnav said.

"KYA?!" Khushi exclaimed, "Then we should have gone somewhere else."

"Yea we should have," Lavanya said.

"No no, it's okay. You guys can enjoy," Arnav said.

"But'." Khushi said.

"No buts. It's okay guys, you all can eat ice cream. We came here, so let's not just go back empty handed. I'm fine," Arnav said. The line moved forward and it was time for their order.

"I'll be outside," Arnav said and left the shop. Khushi didn't know why, but she felt sad that he wasn't able to have anything. NK and Lavanya ordered their ice creams and the lady gave it to them.

Lavanya was about to get out money to pay but NK stopped her, "I'll pay for it."

"But this is my ice cream," Lavanya said.

"Yea so'.?" NK said handing the money to the lady.

"So I will pay for it," Lavanya said.

"Not when you're out with me," NK said.

"Out?! Are you saying this is a date?!" Lavanya said with a high pitched voice.

"Yea," NK said looking back up at her, "I mean if you have no problem with going out with me. Do you?"

"Um. No I don't," Lavanya said shying away and looking the other way.

"Great," Nk said grabbing her hand and walking out of the shop.

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Arnav was sitting on a bench in the when Khushi came next to him and sat down. He noticed that her bowl of ice cream had two spoons in it.

"Why two?" he asked.

"Two what?" Khushi asked him

"Spoons," Arnav said motioning towards he bowl of ice cream.

"Oh! One for you and one for me," Khushi said.
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