Silent Whispers

Chapter 11: Instincts of the Weak

"So what is the problem?"

Khushi stared at her best friend, trying to decode the meaning behind her straightforward question. It was late into the night and the two girls were found sitting in Lavanya's car – a sleek black Lexus – catching up on the last two weeks.

Khushi had just finished explaining her conversation with Akash followed by her brief encounter with Arnav earlier that day, when Lavanya posed her question.

"I don't have a problem Lavs... I... I'm just confused."

"With what?"

"With the whole Akash and Arnav thing. I mean all Akash does is tell us how crappy his family is, but in reality-"

"His older brother is nothing like that."

"If you are talking about his looks-"

"No, I'm not! He was such a gentlemen when I came yesterday."

"He only looks like that, okay?"

"Doesn't seem like that to me... I mean, he obviously loves Akash to death. He takes care of his whole family and never mistreats any of his employees... why do you hate him so much?"

Khushi didn't have an answer. Yes, she couldn't pinpoint a specific reason for her dislike, but she was sure whatever it was, it was at least valid.

"I think you are just mistaken babes."

"No I'm not!" Khushi snapped. "He is not a gentleman... He always irritates the hell out of me."

"By doing what?"

"I don't know! It's just the way he talks... he always has this stupid smirk on his face, as if he knows he is getting to me. And he is always looking for an opportunity to flirt with me!"

"So he flirts with you a little? What's the big deal?"

"Even after knowing that I'm his little brother's girlfriend?!"

Lavanya stared, incredulous. "So what now? No one is allowed to compliment you because you are in a relationship? That makes no sense!"

"It's not-"

"Oh please! The actual problem here is that you are pissed off with Akash because that idiot hid such a "big thing" from you. But you don't want to deal with that, so instead you are looking for faults in Arnav."

"Of course not! Yes, what Akash did was wrong. After all that we have been through, he didn't trust me enough to tell me the truth, but-"

"And what about you Khush? Are you telling him the truth about your feelings?"

Khushi stopped short. "I told-"

"And I told you that he deserves to know the truth."

"Truth about what, exactly? That I want to break up with him just because I don't feel different when I'm his girlfriend instead of his best friend? To be honest, that seems very silly to me. I'm not scared to tell him the truth... but the truth here is that I'm fine with the relationship."

"So basically, you are telling me that you are waiting for an excuse to break up?"

"No! I'm telling you that there is no excuse to break-up. And I decided this on my birthday. It's not a spur of the moment thing... I decided to give us another chance."

"Then what happened?"

I kissed his older brother. The thought involuntarily made it's way into Khushi's mind. However, she didn't dare voice it. Instead, she said,