Differences Between Us :: Arshi FF [COMPLETED] - Page 20

He had noticed since he had introduced her to Arnav that there was some kind of friction between them. It wasn't unusual for his cousin to be cold and unfeeling towards someone, but from Khushi, he had gathered that she was friendly to everyone. What he had witnessed right now, however, was stunning.

While his new friend had acted uptight and distant regarding the newcomer, making as little conversation as possible, Arnav had warmed up. Though there had been no smile on his handsome face, for some unknown reason, the scowl had at least lifted and he had seen a flash of delight as his eyes had travelled over Khushi. Curiosity had pricked Aman and he had wanted to know more. But he knew better that ask his own cousin. So he had moved to the other one and dared to ask her.

"Not really," she stated meekly. "Just an acquaintance."

"Then why am I getting the vibes that you really don't like him?"

Khushi shrugged in order to avoid his question. She did certainly not want to discuss Arnav Singh Raizada, especially when he stood across the room, occasionally glancing at her. Aman smiled fondly at his cousin.

"Arnav vaisa nahin hai jaisa voh voh dikhta hai," he explained to her. "He really cares for people close to him." (Arnav is not what he looks like...)

She stared at Aman indifferently. Why should she care about that arrogant man? Yet, her ears seemed to perk up at the mention of his name and her heart hammered faster. Traitors!

"Voh apni behen se bohot pyaar karta hai aur apne saare kareebi doston ki bohot care karta hai. Bas strangers ke saath thoda uncomfortable rehta hai." (He loves his sister a lot and he really cares for his close friends. He's just a bit uncomfortable with stranger.)

"Thoda?" she echoed sardonically. "Aap humaara mazaak uda rahe hain?" (A bit? Are you laughing at me?)

Aman laughed but did not ask for any explanation. "Really, I mean it! Pata hai? Recently hi ussne apne best friend kis jaan bachaayi hai!" (... You know? He recently saved his best friend's life!)

Khushi frowned. Best friend? That meant Akaash Dogra, right? Her interest peaked slightly. What did Aman mean?

"Actually, kya hua tha?" he went on. "Uske dost ko pyaar hogaya tha. Ladki achhi thi lekin usska parivaar nahin. Suna hai ladki ki maa thodi paagal hai. Daulat ka bhoot savaar hai usske sar pe!" (Actually, what happened? His friend fell in love. The girl was fine, but not her family. I heard the girl's mother was mad. she's obsessed with money!)

Her brain reluctantly absorbed Aman's words as shock numbed her completely, from head to toe. He was talking about her own sister, her own family! He went on, telling her of the lacking Arnav had found with the Guptas while she stood there, her eyes fixed on Arnav. He was talking on the phone and did not see her, but she glared at him with all the anger that was welling inside her.

He must have felt it for he turned to her immediately after he had disconnected. By then, Aman had already moved to someone else because she had completely stopped responding to him. They stared at each other for a full minute before she tore her gaze away and blinked. Her eyes stung, making her realise she had teared up thinking of her sister and the sorrows he had given her.

It was too much for her. Payal's face flashed in front of her eyes once again and her heartbreak bolted through Khushi. She bit her lip hard and started walking to the door. How could someone be this harsh and cruel?

She was not good-looking enough. Her family was not rich enough. Her mother was not sane enough. Then what was enough? And she knew Akaash loved her sister. It was as obvious as the sky was blue. Then how could he miss that? Even if he had seen it, how could he do such athing to his own best friend? Did Arnav Singh Raizada have no emotions, even when it came to the people so close to him?

She had started running even before she knew it and she suddenly found herself clutching at the railing, her hands tight as if she were drowning and holding on it for her life, on the waterfront. The water at her feet was murky and dark in the night but she didn't notice. Rain was pelting down on her, mingling with her tears and breaking the water surface. Her whole body shook with the mute sobs that racked through her.

But then, there was a warmth she felt on her shoulder amidst the cold bites of the rain and wind. The hold was strong, firm and warm. She instinctively turned into it and it enveloped her, absorbing her tears and shivers. Khushi leaned in the feeling. It all felt so right, she wanted to stay like this forever. But a bell rang in her mind in warning. Even through this cloudy feeling of everything being right, she did feel wrong too.

She opened her eyes and pushed herself against the railing to see her apprehension had been justified. The warm support had been offered by, not just the wrong person, but by the last person she would ever expect it from.

Arnav Singh Raizada.

***

His breaths almost stopped when she froze in his arms, before pushing herself away. She stared up at him, her eyes wide with horror. He felt a strange feeling fill him up too, along with the many questions that tormented him altogether.

What had gotten into him? Why had he followed her? Why had the unshed tears in her eyes unsettled him? Why had he even touched her? Why the hell had he hugged her when she had turned to him, crying? And why did he feel so bad after she had pushed him?

Arnav watched her grip the railing, breathing hard. He couldn't take his eyes off her. He knew they should move, go somewhere sheltering them from the rain, but it seemed that the connection between his mind and body had been lost. He was frozen right there as she was.

"Marry me," he heard a voice say calmly and it was only when she gasped that he realised it was he himself who had spoken up.

"Kya?" she finally spluttered when she had recovered. (What?)

"Marry me," he repeated clamly. He had already spilled the beans now, better tell her and accept it himself. He had this thing for her.

At first, she irritated him but he hadn't even realised when he had gotten a strange kind of liking for her. And the attraction had gotten stronger once they had left Kolkata, when he could no longer see her and all he could do to help was only think about her, her eyes... He hadn't wanted to believe it then, but now it hit him like a hammer on the head. Now when he had seen the pain in her expression, the tears in her eyes, now when she had cried in his arms, now when he had hugged her closed to his heart, he had finally been able to accept it...

He loved her...

***

Khushi steeled herself against all the other weakening forces that rose inside her and concentrated solely on her fury. This man, who had dared to insult her family and break her sister's heart, was now asking her to marry him? How could he? How could he stand straight in front of her and tell her such a thing without any shame? Or was he drunk? If she had not observed him since he had arrived, she could have believed that. But he had not touched a single drink, so that was out of question. Then why?

"Kyun?" her voice was nothing more than a whisper. (Why?)

He took a deep breath as the rains calmed a bit and gulped. She was surprised. Was this even Arnav Singh Raizada? He seemed quite embarrassed.

Arnav shrugged. "Because I love you?" he tried.

Khushi's rage flared up ten times what it had been. Her hands detached themselves from the railing and she stood up to him fiercely, blood roaring in her ears.

"Love?" she spat at him hatefully. "You love me? Are you capable of that? Do you even understand what love is?"

He frowned at her and opened his mouth to say something but she didn't let him.

"If you did, then you wouldn't have done that to my sister and Akaashji!" she near shouted at his face. "And why do you want to marry me, Mr Raizada? I'm from a middle class family, I'm not good looking enough, my mother is mad for wealth! If Payal was not good enough for your friend, how do you expect me to suit you?"

"Khushi, I-"

"And, besides, Mr Raizada," she interrupted recklessly. "I won't accept you! Never ever! Even if you might be handsome and rich! Because I know how you really are behind that facade! Shyaamji has told me everything, how you snatched his rights, how you ill-treated him... I hate you, Mr Raizada! I hate you!"

She paused, breathing hard. But she still could not stop. He had hurt her too much, though indirectly. Everything was flooding in her and right then, she didn't quite feel herself.

"Nafrat karte hain hum aapse, Mr Raizada!" she screamed, careless of his feelings. "Nafrat karte hain hum aapse, kyunki aap nafrat ke hi laayak hain! Koyi aapse pyaar kare, aap usske kaabil nahin hain!" (I hate you, Mr Raizada! I hate you, because that's what you are worth! You don't deserve to be loved by anyone!)

The rain had stopped, but not her tears. She glared at him with spite for a full second before she ran away. From him, and from all the confusing feelings he arose in her...