Part 3 Target

Khushi was waiting for the bus to go home. The bus came and she got a seat behind the driver's seat. The bus started. She saw a guy passing the bus by bike. His bike's side stand was not removed. Khushi became horrified seeing that. He will meet with an accident if the side stand is hit with a speed breaker or a stone.

*Please go fast... see his bike stand...* she said to the bus driver.

The bus driver looked at her frowning.

*We can't reach him... we are on the bus but he is going on the bike. How could we catch him?*

*Bhai please... he may die...*

The driver was about to say something, but he jerked as the guy's bike's side stand banged on the speed breaker and he flew in the air. His head hit on the cement divider. He fell on the road and the place filled with his blood.

*Stopppp...* Khushi shouted and the bus was already stopped.

She rushed to the guy who was struggling for life. She stopped an auto to get the guy to the hospital.

*Hey girl... he is no more...* someone said.

Khushi looked at him shockingly. Tears flowed from her eyes. The traffic police reached the place and asked the people to leave. People started dispersing. Khushi stood there looking at the guys with a painful expression.

*Is he your friend?* the policeman asked her.

Khushi nodded no.

*Then go...*

Khushi stood there, missing her bus but she didn't care about it. She went home all sad.

GH

Khushi was upset for the whole day. Shashi saw her face and found out that she is not well. He came to her and circled her shoulder. Khushi looked at him with teary eyes. Shashi was panicked, seeing her crying.

*What happened beta...?*

*A guy died in a road accident today...*

*Who is he?*

*I don't know... but I had a chance to save him... but I couldn't...* she said crying.

*How?*

Khushi explained to him what happened.

*What was your mistake in that? It happened because of his carelessness...*

*Maybe, but it was not so big a mistake to get such punishment, Babuji...*

*You were not careless but tried to save him. What could you do if the bus driver didn't stop the bus?*

Khushi was silent.

*Everything happens according to our fate... don't cry*

Khushi wiped her tears.

*Have you had dinner?*

Khushi nodded no.

*Let's go...* without waiting for her to say ok, Shashi clutched her hand and dragged her with him to the dining.

The next day

Khushi entered the college with Preeto. She saw the DON gang of the college sitting under a tree laughing. Aman nagged Arnav to see Khushi. Not only Arnav but also the other three looked at her. When Khushi crossed them, all of them talked with each other, looking at Khushi.

*Ba Ba...*

*Ba Ba Ba...*

*Ba Ba Ba Ba...*

Preeto controlled her laughter whereas Khushi started walking fast. Before entering her classroom, Khushi turned towards them and saw Arnav smiling at her.

*Khushi, they are teasing you...*

Khushi pouted.

That's when a gang of boys came to Khushi.

*Did they tease you?* the head of the gang asked her.

Khushi frowned at them like WHO ARE YOU TO ASK ABOUT IT?

*I'm Kishan... your senior... I mean the computer science department...your department... if they tease you, tell me.*

*They didn't tease us...*

*I saw them laughing at you...*

*Oh... I didn't see that...* She went inside the classroom.

Arnav and his friends saw that and they know what Kishan's gang would have told Khushi. Seeing them not approaching them, they understood that she didn't complain about them to Kishan.

*I think she didn't tell him anything...* NK said.

*She didn't provoke him... say like that...* Aman said.

*Yeah... or else, Kishan and his gang would have flaunted in front of Khushi...* Akash said.

*And, they would have been beaten up black and blue...* Arnav said casually.

*Let's go to our class. Or else, Financial Management Madam will fill our years with unbearable advice...* Aman said laughingly.

*You are right Aman. I can even sit in her class hours but can't stand her advice...* NK said.

They walked to their class.

*By the way, don't tease Khushi... she seems a nice girl...* Arnav said while walking.

*Ohhhhhh* the other sang, teasingly.

*Stop it...*

*What the hell... don't we have the right to tease anyone in this independent India?* Aman said.

Arnav nodded and laughed.

*Look Buddy, Khushi is a good girl doesn't mean we can't tease her. Let her feel special with our teases...*

*Yeah...*

*Whatever...* Arnav said.

And they reached the class before the financial Management Professor came. A girl came to them. She extended a sweet box to them.

*Is it your birthday today?* NK asked.

She nodded yes.

*Happy birthday Stella...* they said in the same tone.

*Thank you... Arnie... what about a dinner date tonight?*

*Sorry, yaar... I'm not available...*

*I know you will have dinner only with your father but today is my day... please consider...* she said greasily.

*Please don't make me deny again and again...* Arnav said with concern.

Stella sighed.

*We are studying together for five years... yet, you are treating me the same. Am I not special to you...?*

*We are studying with him for seven years... he treats us also the same...* Aman laughed.

*I'm also studying with you for five years... and I'm ready for the dinner date... what say?* NK asked lifting his collar.

Stella glared at him and went back. They chuckled at her.

*ASR... you have to be careful with her... I think she loves you...*

*Damn her...* Arnav rolled his eyes.

*Yes, Nannav... I also think the same...*

*Who cares...?*

The class became silent as the FM professor entered.

The short break

Arnav was in the canteen with Akash and NK.

*Where is Aman?* Arnav asked.

*He went to the restroom* Akash said.

They saw Aman rushing towards them.

*ASR... the Science department students are planning something against us... especially against you...*

*How do you know?*

*See this...* Aman extended a bit of paper.

Arnav unfolded it and read.

*You guys have been targeted... be careful..., especially Arnav*

*Who gave it to you...?*

*I don't know someone threw it inside the bathroom. There was no one when I came out*

*Be careful Nannav... they will take revenge for every punch they got from us* NK said.

Arnav thought something deep and said nothing.

But... as they expected nothing happened. That week went smoothly. And Arnav's friends didn't stop teasing Khushi but Khushi didn't give heed to their tease and kept silent.

It was Sunday. Khushi's parents went to Agra to attend a marriage in the afternoon. Khushi denied going to Agra with them as she can't go to the college the next day if she goes to the marriage because she knew they will start from Agra only early in the morning.

Khushi went to the dance class as usual. After finishing the dance class, she waited at the bus stand for her route bus. As it was Sunday, the bus service was not frequent. She looked at her watch and it was 7:45. She was getting nervous because there was no light on the bus stand.

She saw a man coming from far by bike, wearing a helmet. She turned her face to the opposite side and looked for the bus. Suddenly, she heard a horrible sound and saw the man falling from the bike and he rolled on the road. She saw a truck crossing her speedily. The truck should have hit the bike. She rushed to the man who was lying on the ground. Many people surrounded the guy. Someone came forward and removed the helmet. Khushi was horror-struck as the man was none other than Arnav.

To be continued...

The next part is available on Inkitt

Help

Khushi was horrified, seeing Arnav in the pool of blood. Undoubtedly, he was unconscious. She clutched his wrist and checked the pulse. She sighed in relief as the pulse was not lowering. Without any second thought, she dialed 108, the ambulance service. Within a few minutes, the ambulance arrived at the spot. She also got into the ambulance and went to the hospital.