IPKKND FF: Masquerade [Chapter 18] Updated 10 Sept - Page 17

Khushi wandered around the antique shop and gaped admiringly at all the different items for sale. There were shawls from different states, dokhra figurines, unusual kinds of jewellery, mats, rugs and carpets made of jute, hemp and other fibres. There were statues of people as depicted hundreds of years ago, oil lanterns and candle stands, olden day paintings and furniture with intricate designs on them - all successfully transporting her back to the time that this shop was trying to recreate. She had never been to such a place before and she was loving every minute of it.

She stepped back and bumped into someone behind her and heard them drop something. She quickly bent down, picked it up and returned it to the person, apologizing profusely. She looked up to meet the soft, kind eyes of a young woman. Her hair was open and was falling down her back in gentle waves. She was wearing a sari draped stylishly across her and had a slightly confused look on her face. Khushi immediately decided that she liked this woman a lot. She gave her a wide smile and started her conversation.

"I'm so sorry for bumping into you like that. Actually, this is the first time that I've been to a store like this and I was kind of lost in everything. So that's why I didn't realize that there was someone standing behind me. I hope you didn't mind?"

The young woman smiled warmly at the cheerful banter coming from this girl.

"My name's Khushi, by the way. Khushi Kumari Gupta."

"I'm Anjali. Nice to meet you Khushi."

She shook hands with Khushi and suddenly Anjali gasped before looking at her with wide eyes.

"Now I remember! I was wondering why you looked so familiar. You were there at Virat and Maanvi's wedding weren't you? You're Maanvi's pretty friend!"

For a moment Khushi's smile faltered but then she nodded her head. Anjali beamed at her as if she had found her long lost friend.

"I finally know your name now! I must tell you Khushi, you were looking absolutely stunning that day. Even Chote couldn't stop himself from admiring you."

In response to Khushi's puzzled look, Anjali smacked her own head lightly and proceeded to explain.

"Oh sorry! I'm also such an idiot. Chote's my younger brother. He normally doesn't even give a second glance towards any girl, no matter how pretty she is. You see, my brother is quite difficult to please and frankly speaking, he has a terrible temper. But in spite of that girls always seem to fall for him. He's quite handsome you see."

"Someone talking about me?"

...

Arnav walked into the shop grumpily. His Di needed to buy some things for her on-going project and she had dragged him along with her. She was a very successful interior decorator and people all over Delhi spoke about how talented she was. Normally he would make some kind of excuse and get out of it but incident yesterday had left her fuming. Anjali was normally very understanding and barely ever raised her voice. But his banging of the laptop and consequent abrupt departure was not something that she would take lightly. So to make up for his behavior, he was now being forced to accompany her to some God-forsaken antique shop while she took her time and picked out whatever she needed.

He looked around for some sign of her and spotted her chatting animatedly with someone. He smiled warmly as he wondered who it was that she was excitedly talking to. His eyes moved towards the left and stopped short. He blinked a few times trying to make sure that he wasn't hallucinating and when he caught fragments of their conversation, he decided that he was definitely not mistaken. Taken a few purposeful strides, he went towards them and spoke.

"Someone talking about me?"

...

Khushi's heart stopped for a minute as a deep and very familiar voice came from her right. She jerked her head towards the owner of the voice and her face went pale. There he was, the one person whom she desperately wanted to avoid, standing in front of her in all his arrogant glory.

"Chote! I was just talking about you. Remember her? She was at Virat's wedding. I finally got to know her name. She's Khushi Kumari Gupta."

Khushi watched in fear as his eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of her name.

"Oh yes. I remember now. Khushi Kumari Gupta, did you say? Well I'm glad you've finally got to meet her. Are you done with your shopping Di? Shall we leave?"

He had said all of this to his sister but his eyes had been focused absolutely on her. Khushi felt highly uncomfortable under his gaze and hoped fervently that he would leave. Unfortunately she was not rewarded and she watched, horrified, as Anjali received a phone call and walked out of the store after telling her brother to get the bag from the counter indicating that she had completed her shopping. As soon as she left, Khushi dashed out of the shop and paused only when she had reached a deserted alley a little bit away from the shop. She was just about catching her breath when a low voice came from behind her. She turned around hastily and was shocked to see him standing before her, jaw clenched and indescribable fury emanating from his being. She knew that if she did not get away from here, she would definitely be a goner today. But before she could do anything, he grabbed her wrists and pushed her against the wall.

"What are you doing here?"

Khushi flinched at his menacing tone. She gulped a couple of times before managing a faint reply.

"That's none of your business."

She felt his grip on her wrists tighten and she struggled to free herself. His jaw was clenched even more tightly and for the second time in her life, Khushi felt completely helpless. She didn't know how she would get out of this situation and she felt tears pricking her eyes but she held them back, not wanting to let this man see how vulnerable she was.

"It's damn well my business when your lies and deceit involve my sister. Now answer me, what are you doing here?"

Khushi felt a strange anger bubble inside her stomach and she retorted with full venom.

"Lies and deceit? Exactly how much do you know about me that you're making such accusations?"

"I know enough to tell me that you're a worthless gold digger who charms her way into rich people's lives. I don't care about what you've done with other people but if you dare do anything to my sister, you'll regret that fact that you were ever born. Do you understand, Khushi Kumari Gupta?"

He almost spat out the last few words, as if it tasted vile in his mouth. Khushi felt her glass bangle break under the force of his grip and gasped as it pierced her skin. That was the last straw. She lifted her knee and hit him square in his stomach. He lurched back, more in surprise than in pain and she used this opportunity to try and escape. But he was too quick for her and blocked her path.

"Running away are we? Scared that all your lies will be exposed? Just as I thought, you're a coward as well."

She whipped around and faced him. What he saw stunned him beyond words. Her face was pale and lips pressed into a thin line. A bit of her hair had come loose and was flapping wildly in the wind. But what really got him were her eyes. They were filled with fury and indignation. Tears were brimming in them as she looked at him accusingly.

"Coward? You're calling me a coward? I'm not the one who uses his superior strength to make a weaker person comply to his demands and questions! I'm not the one who pinned an unsuspecting girl against the wall and kept her there by sheer brute force! I am not the one who shamelessly man handled her and injured her in the process! Take a good look Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada and you'll know who the actual coward here is."

Arnav stood stock still as he slowly gazed at her wrist. The shard of the broken bangle was still stuck inside her while rich, red blood oozed out of the wound, contrasting brilliantly with her delicate, white skin. He made a movement towards her but she held up her hand and then walked away, clenching her injury free hand in frustration.

...

Arnav banged his fist against the wall. He did not regret his outburst nor did he believe that he had misunderstood the girl. Then why the hell was he feeling so terrible every time he thought about her tears. It pained him to think that he had been the cause behind it. Never in his life had he felt so conflicted. What was going on?

...

Khushi sighed heavily as she felt the cool breeze against her skin. A couple of hours had passed since the traumatic incident and she had managed to calm down with great difficulty. But every time she looked at her wrist, she would be reminded of everything and angry tears would well up in her eyes. What gave him the right to judge her? How much did he know about her anyway? And the worst part was that her heart would treacherously fill with happiness every time she recalled those words.

He normally doesn't even give a second glance towards any girl, no matter how pretty she is.

Even Chote couldn't stop himself from admiring you.

...

Not too long but as I said, frequent, short updates for you'll. Do like and comment!

Chapter Seven