Differences Between Us :: Arshi FF [COMPLETED] - Page 3

As per Paheli's wishes, all the main ceremonies would be held in one day, with the sangeet just before the wedding. While everyone was dancing, Khushi sat in a corner and read her book from her AmazonKindle, which she had been, thank Devi Maiyya, able to smuggle in without her mother seeing it. She sensed someone coming near but did not look up. When the person sat down, she raised her eyes curiously to see Mr Raizada three chairs down from hers. He wore a Payne's grey three piece suit, and was staring at the screen of the latest Blackberry.

As if he had felt her eyes on him, he glanced her way, making her look back at her book immediately. She sensed his cold fury on her skin, heating up her cheeks in shame she did not understand why she felt. She looked up, not at him, but at her elder sister who was dancing shyly with Akaash. Payal shot her a quick smile before the song ended and Paheli's brother came up to ask her for the next one. She looked at Akaash, who kindly smiled and nodded.

Mr Dogra searched the room for his friend and walked to him. He gave Khushi a friendly smirk, acknowledging her presence, then he sat right beside Arnav. She did hear them, though.

"Yeh, kya Arnav? Tum yahaan akele? C'mon, find a girl and dance!" (What's this, Arnav?...)

Khushi watched them from out of the corner of her eye. Mr Raizada turned to his friend with a bored expression.

"Are you out of your mind, Akaash?"

Khushi's eyes widened. So the man could speak! She had practically thought he was dumb or something like that. And his voice. She tried not to think about it but Mr Arnav Singh Raizada definitely had the most enchanting baritone she had ever heard.

"Arnav! What happened? You seem to be angrier than usual."

The man scowled back at his mobile. Khushi noted he could have been handsome if it were not for that ugly frown which was always there. That worsened when he scowled with anger or disgust, like he was right then.

"This is all so middle class, Akaash!" he muttered, jaws clenched. "I don't believe you are mingling with these people."

"Arnav-"

"And on the top of that, you're forcing us to be with you, tagging along wherever you go."

Khushi wondered how Akaash could chuckle so easily at his friend's bitter, hurtful words. They had scalded even her, though they might not have been directed at her. Middle class had he said? Well, at least them were not pretentious like him! She ground her teeth together, seething. She had never seen such arrogance in her whole twenty three years. And now, she confirmed it. She strongly disliked Mr Raizada.

"Relax, yaar. Look, I know you're tensed because of Anjali, but don't worry she'll be fine. Just fince a partner, dance a bit and relax. I'm saying this for your own good."

Arnav snorted dryly. "Kidding me, are you?" he said, flaunting his American accent. "If you find anyone remotely suitable, you inform me, okay?"

"Are you blind, Arnav? There are so many beautiful girls here, find one!"

He chukled, glancing at Akaash. "Yeah, maybe you item is, but not the others."

"My item?"

"Yeah. That Gupta girl?"

Khushi's anger flared even more. How dare that arrogant, manner less Laad Governor call her sister and item? Just because he was richer than them, he thought he could have everything his way? He could treat anyone the way he wanted? Wait till I get to you Mr Raizada, and then we'll see if you live to tell the tale!

"Arnav, please! Don't call her an item!" Akaash whispered fiercely as he knew Khushi was right beside them but Arnav shrugged carelessly.

"You danced with her seven times, you know? Usually you don't go with the same girl twice. What's up?" he went on nonchalantly, his eyes fixed on the screen before him. Meanwhile, Khushi was gritting her teeth to stop her anger pour out of it.

"So what?"

Arnav sighed pitifully. "Nothing."

His friend also sighed and Khushi could do nothing but feel empathy for him. She wondered how he could stand someone like that. If it were her, she would have dumped a friend like Arnav Singh Raizada ages ago.

"Listen, Arnav," she heard Mr Dogra whisper. "You said Payal is beautiful, right? Then, I'm sure you'll find her sister as beautiful. And she's pretty nice too. It's the second one, Khushi. She's sitting right here. Ask her to dance, she has not dance with anyone yet."

She felt Mr Raizada look at her scornfully. Again, the chill in his gaze fuelled her fury but she kept staring at the words on the screen, pretending she was not listening to their conversation. She heard the silence, felt his eyes travel all over her.

"She's pretty," he said finally, without bothering to lower his tone. "but not good-looking enough to tempt me. Besides no other man here wants her, so why should I? I'll give you an advice, Akaash? Return to your partner, her dance is almost finished. Enjoy her smiles instead of wasting your time with me."

Mr Raizada got up and strode out of the room, leaving Akaash awkward and Khushi fuming. He had insulted her right there, without the least bit of shame. She was 'not good-looking enough' to tempt him, right? As if he were the god of male perfection? As if he did not bear the tiniest fault?

Well, he did. His I-give-a-damn attitude that he wore on his sleeves, his arrogance, his frown, his anger, his meaningless hatred for middle-class people, his pride, everything was imperfect in him. He did not even have proper manners. He might be rich, he might belong to the higher class in the social strata. But he was definitely of the lowest class in terms of mannerism. To hell with him!

She sensed Akaash turning towards her. She would have glared at him spitefully but that would make her like his friend. And besides, Mr Dogra was not to be blamed for his friend's attitude. He was a nice man who liked her sister, and surely, Khushi would never ruin Payal's chances of getting married to someone who loved her, would she?

Akaash was smiling sheepishly at her. Khushi immediately detected the embarrassment in his eyes. He was wondering if Khushi had heard their conversation. She returned his smile with a large, cheerful grin, erasing all his doubts with a silent lie, hiding the truth, the hurt, the insult. His smile widened slightly, then he walked to the dance floor again.

She saw him reach for her sister's hand and pull her into a slow dance. They moved in bliss, along the rhythm of the music. She saw her sister's smile. A genuine one, which meant she was happy with Mr Dogra. It made her smile too, seeing Payal truly happy. She would not let anyone ruin this. Not even stupid Mt Raizada and his 'ideologies' and his arrogance.

'Not good-looking enough', was she?