NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE (Completed)
34 Gift
Part 34 Gift
Before Lalith saw her, Radha got into the lift and pressed the button. She came to Arvind's cabin all nervous. Arvind was not there. He went to attend a meeting. She didn't know what to do. She was sure Arnav would not trust her words. More than that, she had no time to think. According to Lalith's statement, the semi-finals would have finished as of now. They would implement their plan, a sinister plot that could jeopardise everything, anytime.
She saw Arvind's phone connected to the charger. Taking it, she searched for Arnav's number. She thought of calling him but changed her decision because Arnav would get annoyed seeing his father's number. Moreover, he would lose his temper if he heard her voice. She had to do something quickly before they did Sheetal did something. She wrote Arnav's number on a piece of paper and came out. She saw an accountant working on her PC.
"Can I get your phone to make a call?" she requested.
The woman looked at her, wondering.
"I missed my phone at home" She lied.
The accountant passed her phone after unlocking it.
Radha dialled Arnav's number. Arnav didn't attend the call as he celebrated Khushi's semi-final victory.
"Go and take a rest... you should be fit for the finals," Arnav said.
Khushi nodded okay and went to their place.
That was when Arnav felt his phone vibrating. He took it out and frowned to see four missed calls from an unknown number. He attended the call. Before he spoke,
"Stop Khushi from eating or drinking anything. Something may be mixed in it. If she has it, it will destroy her whole career and goal. Go and stop her..." The call disconnected.
Arnav, his face a mask of horror, sprinted towards their spot, frantically searching for Khushi. His heart pounded as he saw a man handing Khushi a juice bottle.
"Ranjith sir asked me to give it to all our college students," the man said.
"Oh, thank you..." Khushi smiled at him, taking the bottle.
"Congratulations. You rocked," the man added.
"Thanks," Khushi said, walking.
Sheetal, who watched it, spilt the winning smirk. Her facial expression changed when Arnav ran towards her, shouting her name.
"Khushiiiiii...."
Sheetal looked at Khushi, who hadn't heard Arnav's voice or noticed him. The announcement of the next race dumbed Arnav's tone.
Khushi became excited hearing the announcement. She stood at the outer track to see the race because it was the second semi-final of her category race. She wanted to see who would compete with her in the final. She opened the bottle and raised her hand to sip it, but someone shrugged off it, disappointing Sheetal. Why did Arnav shrug the bottle? Did he know about the truth behind the juice? She slowly moved towards them between the crowd to find out why.
Khushi looked at Arnav without understanding anything, who stood panting hard. She was confused to see Arnav taking the bottle from the ground with half of the juice. He closed the bottle and asked,
"Why do you drink anything given by a stranger, Khushi?" Arnav's voice was urgent, his concern palpable.
"The man said that Ranjith sir asked him to give it to all our college students."
"Ranjith, sir?"
"Yes"
"Come with me."
Clutching her hand, he pulled her towards their physical instructor. Sheetal hit her head as she guessed that Arnav got to know something about the juice. But how could he know? No one other than Lalith, she and the man who gave the juice to Khushi knew about the plan. Then what made Arnav doubt?
Arnav saw the PI standing at the track to watch the second semi-final.
"Sir..." Arnav called him.
"Yes?"
"Where is Ranjith, sir?"
"Ranjith? He went home before lunch."
"Before lunch? But why, sir?"
"His mother is ill. He got a call from home. So, I permitted him to go."
"Then, how did someone give this juice to Khushi and say Ranjith sir asked him to give it to all our college students?"
"Who said that? I have not assisted anyone in doing that, and definitely, Ranjith would not have done that because he is not here."
Arnav became thoughtful.
"Anything serious Arnav?"
Arnav nodded yes and told him about the phone call. The PI and Khushi were shocked to the core.
"But, who is targeting Khushi? She is just a budding athlete..." the PI frowned.
Arnav gulped down hard and saw Khushi's hands shivering.
"Sir, excuse us."
"What are you going to do, Arnav?"
"I'm not going to leave it, sir."
Clutching Khushi's hand, he took her with him. He came aloof from the crowd. He made her sit on a cement bench and sat beside her. He saw her eyes teary.
"Khushi, relax... I know what this Meet mean to you. You, too, don't forget about it. Don't let your fear overpower your confidence. Shine like a sun, Khushi."
Khushi looked at him, raising her eyes. Tears rolled down her cheek. Arnav wiped it, gulping down.
"Thank God, you came at the right time. What would have happened if I had had the drink?"
"You are a good girl with good intentions. Nothing bad will happen to you. Someone wants you to lose. At the same time, someone helped you and stopped you from drinking the juice... think about it."
"Why are they BEHIND me?" her voice shivered.
"It's because you are AHEAD of them. They can't do what you are doing. They couldn't even reach your place. That's why they are trying to pull you down in this way, like a coward. They know they cannot stand IN FRONT OF you. That's why they are BEHIND you. Break their hope and make them understand they can never win over you."
Khushi blinked her eyes.
"Khushi, don't lose hope. Someone wants you to lose the game. They want to crumble you. Don't let them win. Show them who you are. Your hard work will not go in vain, Khushi. You should get the medal standing at the top of the podium... For your future... for your dream... for ME..."
Khushi nodded yes, biting her lip. Yes, she had to win for Arnav, if not for herself—the man who genuinely wanted her to achieve her goal.
"Come on... get up." Arnav LIFTED her shoulder.
Khushi stood up. They heard Arnav's race's announcement.
"I'm going... the next race will be yours, be ready."
Khushi nodded yes. Arnav was supposed to go, but Khushi stopped him by clutching his hand.
"All the best... win your race. WE will go for the National Meet together," Khushi said.
Arnav's lips curved into a smile. Taking a step, he gave her a gentle hug... the hug she needed most. Khushi closed her eyes, feeling peace in her heart. She felt like the tension in her heart had been removed.
Arnav broke the hug and smiled at her. He felt like he had an energy tonic from the hug. Of course, she didn't reciprocate the hug; she didn't stop him, though. He rushed to the track with the same zeal.
Khushi followed him with a smile. She knew the reason for his sudden energy. She came to the track and saw him relaxing his muscles by the standing jump. He did that, looking at Khushi smilingly.
The race started. The competitors could not cope with the man's speed in extreme energy. Arnav finished the game first and won the Gold medal. Khushi clapped her hands cheerfully, enjoying his victory.
The next race was not Khushi's but the Gents' event. Arnav smilingly came to Khushi to get her wishes.
"Congratulations, Champion", Khushi smiled.
"Thank you, going to be Champion", Arnav smiled.
Khushi smiled.
"I hope you are all right."
"Because of you..." Khushi didn't hesitate to accept the truth.
"Always..." Arnav said.
"Take a rest. You have one more event..."
"You, too, have two races, and I know you will win."
"You, too, will win."
"Hopefully, don't forget, this is a challenge of your life."
Khushi nodded yes.
"Just think: Those who want you to lose are at the finish line, and you are running to break their faces..."
Khushi nodded yes.
"Wait..."
Arnav rushed to their place and came with a bag.
"Let's go..." Arnav walked with her. Khushi didn't know why he carried the bag.
Arnav brought her to the starting line. Khushi heard her race announcement. She came to the track. Arnav gestured for her like punching, asking her to break her haters. Khushi nodded and stood at her track, getting ready.
She heard the clap sound. That was it. Khushi didn't know how fast she ran. There was nearly a ten-meter difference between her and the second one. The audience was awed to see such a finishing. It didn't look like a FINAL race because usually, the final race would have only a few feet of difference. That was the first time a STATE final race had such a lead.
The commentator announced it as a NEW STATE MEET RECORD. Arnav ran to Khushi, shouting with joy. To his surprise, Khushi also ran towards him. She stood panting hard for a few seconds.
"Thank you so much, Arnavji. Thank you for encouraging me. Thank you for being my strength," She said, smiling.
Arnav removed something from his bag and extended it to Khushi.
"A small gift for your victory. You are going to get your medal, wearing this." He smiled.
Khushi's eyes tear up, seeing the thing. It was a COAT.
To be continued...
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