Differences Between Us :: Arshi FF [COMPLETED] - Page 25

"His father worked for my dad," he spat through clenched teeth. "They were good friends and his father was a really honest man. But he was not. When his father died, Dad asked Shyaam to be added in his will so that he could inherit some money to study to become a lawyer as Uncle Jha wished... but Shyaam... he never went to the college Dad had admitted him to before he also died... he enjoyed himself on my father's money, and when his share was over and he was deep in debt, he came to see me."

Arnav sighed heavily. "I helped him, I cleared all his debts and doing that, I also learnt about his enjoyments. When he came to see me to get more money and I refused, he started another ploy. To trap my sister, Anjali... That bas***d pretended to my sister, he lied to her... He knew that if he married my sister, he would get her share of the Raizada property too, and that meant half the empire my father had toiled hard to create. So did everything to win her, which he did... and my twin sister even started to consider me as her enemy because he had filled her ears about me!"

Khushi's eyes felt prickly because of the tears which glazed them. How could she had believed Shyaam? How could she have misunderstood Arnav? There was a low buzz in her head which made her feel dizzy.

"She even was ready to marry him in secret but unfortunately for him, I learnt about it and put a stop to everything. I banned Shyaam from being in my sister's proximity. She was angry with me at first but when she saw the evidences against him, she understood. And she also got herself hurt... a lot... Especially when we heard that one of her friends, who had met Shyaam, was actually sleeping with him. It sent Anjali in depression. She tried to kill herself a few times until I made a psychiatrist follow her. She's only just started to be better now," he half smiled to himself. "She always loved music, the violin, more precisely. So I do my best to keep her engaged in these things to keep her mind off her past. Every day she has a tuition for every instrument possible..."

Khushi bit her lip. She was so ashamed of herself. Because of this huge misunderstanding, she had ended up saying horrible things to him and even hurt his feelings. She heard him sigh, then he got up.

"I'm sorry," he told her without looking at her. "Mujhe jaana hai. I have a flight to catch." (... I have to go. ...)

She jumped up from the bench as he started striding out of the gazebo. "Arnavji!" she called, causing him to stop on the last step. He turned slightly to indicate he was listening to her but an unknown feeling pinched her heart. Had she hurt him so much that he no longer wanted to see her? "I'm sorry," she mumbled.

Arnav clenched his jaws together and turned his head to look straight ahead before he walked away...

***

"Lekin Khushiji! Do teen bhi nahin hue hain! This is cheating! Aap naarangi kar rahi hain!" (But Khushiji! It hasn't even been three days! ... You're [doing clementines]).

Aman punched his friend's arm. "Naarangi nahin, stupid! Ramanchi!"

NK winced but Khushi did not seem to hear anything. It was strange. Usually, she would be laughing and correcting him but not now. Instead, she was packing her things hurriedly to leave by tonight's flight. She had told him she was feeling homesick, but somewhere he knew it was a lie. She had been acting weird since the night of Aman's party. Yet, he never argued further than that...

***

It was only when NK and Aman had left that she opened her handbag. She took out the mint green jacket she had carefully tucked there and held it tight. He had left with her that morning and she couldn't quite understand why but she had kept it. Gulping, she hid her face its neck, inhaling his scent, which surprisingly soothed her in a way she couldn't explain...

***

"Tum kaisi ho, jiji?" she mumbled, hugging her older sister. Payal nodded before she pulled away and left for the kitchen. Khushi had to bite the inside of her cheeks to prevent the tears from coming. "Hum apne kamre mein jaa rahe hain!" she declared, running up the stairs. (How are you jiji? I'm going in my room!)

***

"Yeh teri mami tujhe Phatti Saree kyun bulaati hain?" Shivanee asked as she helped Khushi to shop for the vegetables and fruits. Her maternal uncle and aunt were coming that day and Khushi seemed happy enough. Well, more than since her return from Australia. (Why does your mami call you Phatti Saree?)

Shivanee was curious. Her friend had always been jovial but now, it was the complete opposite. And if she dared ask about it, Khushi would ignore her questions and change the topic promptly.

"Ek baar jab hum chhote the," Khushi explain with a small smile. "Humne Amma ki saree churaali thi aur pata nahin kaise pehenli thi. Phir hum poore ghar mein daurne lage aur sabko dikhaane lage. Pata nahin kya hua, hum achaanak gir gaye aur saree phat gayi! Uss din se Mamiji humein pyaar se Phatti Saree bulaati hain." (Once when I was small, I had stolen Amma's saree and worn it. Then I went all around to show everyone. But I don't know how, I suddenly fell and the saree got torn. Since that day Mamiji affectionately calls me Phatti Saree.)

She giggled at the memory before her smile vanished as if by enchantment. Shivanee frowned and looked where Khushi had fixed her glare to see Shyaam Manohar Jha walking towards then. Before he had even reached them, Khushi had picked her shopping bags and turned away.

"Chal, Shivanee," she hissed, dragging her friend along. Shivanee was even more confused. What was wrong with Khushi? She was usually very friendly with the new neighbour and now? God knew what had happened in Australia! Maybe someone had used black magic on her? (Come, Shivanee.)

***

"Humein nahin pata, Mamaji..." (I don't know, Mamaji...)

"Bhaiyya! Yeh to abhi pardes jaake aayi hai! Aap Lavanya ko leke jaaye na!" Garima intervened. (She has just returned from abroad! Take Lavanya instead!)

Before Manohar could reply to his sister, La poked her head inside the room. "No ways, Mom! Two weeks mein meri friend ki engagement hai and I don't want to miss that for some stupid trip!"

Manohar sighed, glancing at his wife who grimaced at her niece's rudeness. Whenever they looked at the youngest Gupta daughter, they thanked God they had never had a child but it was the total opposite when they thought of Payal and Khushi.

"To isska matbal ee hai ke Payal Bitiya aur Phatti Saree humre saath aayee ka padi!" Manorama Mami squealed. (So that means Payal Bitiya and Phatti Saree have to come with us!)

"Nahin Mamiji, maaf kijiye, lekin iss samay Bauji kuchh ziaada theek nahin hain. Hum yahin rahenge aur unki madat karenge," Payal politely explained. "Aap Khushi ko hi leke jaaiye." (No Mamiji, sorry, but these days Bauji is not very well. I'll stay here and help him out.)

Manohar and his wife both looked at Khushi expectantly. She had no choice here right?

***

"To Mamiji? Hum kahaan kahaan jaanewale hai?" (So? Where will we be going?)

"Varanasi, Allahbad, Kanpur, aur Lucknow! Bahute majaa ayega!" (We'll have a lot of fun!)

Khushi's heart was racing. Lucknow? The city where the Raizada's ancestral home, Sheesh Mahal, was found? She bit her lip. She half wanted to see him but half of her did not want too. how would she even face him after what had happened? What would she say to him? She shut her eyes tight and rested her cheek against the cool window of the car while heavy rain lashed outside. The weather reflected the exact state of her heart.

***

"Manorama? Sheesh Mahal yahaan se door nahin hai na?" (Sheesh Mahal is not far from here right?)

Her head snapped up so quickly she got a cramp below her ear. Sheesh Mahal? She hoped not. Mamiji knew this town like the bottom of her pocket. How would she not? This was her hometown, afterall!

"Hmm... heeyan hi hui ka padi..." (Hmm... it must be near...)

Khushi bit her lip hard. He Devi Maiyya! They could not be that near, please! She didn't –

"Arey! Sheesh Mahal is therewa! Chalo,chalo! Phatti Saree! You comingwa?" (Oh! Sheesh Mahal is there! Come, come! Phatti Saree! Are you coming?)

She smiled at her aunt tightly and followed, her fidgety hands crossed behind her back. All she could do now was hope that Arnav Singh Raizada was not in his den today. No. He was surely not. He was businessman, he was busy! Perhaps he was abroad, or in Delhi, or Mumbai, or with Akaash – wherever Akaash Dogra could be – or... Gah! Did she even care? He just needed NOT to be here in Lucknow!

Then why was her heart drumming and begging for a glimpse of him?