Differences Between Us :: Arshi FF [COMPLETED] - Page 31

Anjali came to meet them at the door to meet them. Though she was smiling, Khushi noticed the sullen dullness in her eyes. Letting the elders walk ahead with the housekeeper, she kept Anjali back for a few minutes.

"Kya hua, Anjaliji? Aap inti udaas kyun hain?" (What happened, Anjaliji? Why are you so upset?)

She shook her head grimly. "Kuchh nahin, Khushiji. Bhai aur hum judwa hain, na? Shaayad issi liye unke mood ka assar hum pe bhi pad raha hai. Chaliye, sab intezaar kar rahe honge." (Nothing, Khushiji. Arnav and I are twins. Maybe that's why his mood is affecting mine too. Come, they must be waiting.)

Khushi was intrigued by Anjali's response. By what she had understood, Arnav was upset? She was still brooding over what could have happened when they entered the hall that was divided in a spacious living room and the other half of it consisted of an equally large dining room. Other than Arnav, there were two more people; two women.

She let her eyes wander on the women first. The elder one seemed to be in her late forties. She was dressed in an ivory-coloured saree with a simple dark green border, with a matching strict choli underneath, with full sleeves and a high collar. She wore no jewellery but a pair of seed pearl earrings and a silver watch, as well as a wire-rimmed watch. Oddly, she seemed quite familiar to Khushi's mind.

The younger woman could be no older than Anjali. She was dressed quite brazenly, compared to the older one; a royal blue A-line dress that fell to her mid-thighs when she stood, with spaghetti straps. Large swirly, diamond and sapphire studded earrings hung from the sides of her face, her artfully made waves barely revealing her ears, while a broad diamond choker – an exact replica of which she wore as bracelet - sat on her neck. She was already tall but with the addition of a pair of six inch-high stilettos, she reached a head above Arnav. The make-up was so heavy, Khushi was sure that if everything was scraped off, it would amount to at least one kilo of product.

Arnav stood there like a rigid statue, his eyes cold and she realised he was putting every ounce of effort in averting her gaze. She looked away, her heart a miserable piece of muscle that she tried to ignore, and waited for Anjali to make the introductions.

Well, her subconscious had proven to be right. She did know the older lady. Her name was Subhadra Malik, a very reputed politician Khushi might have seen on television but she never remembered these people as politics had always disgusted her. Anjali said she was a very good friend to their deceased mother. The other woman was Pallavi Malik, Subhadra's daughter. Her name rang a bell in Khushi's head. She had heard that name somewhere but it felt like a piece was missing. While the little group sat in the plush sofas discussing, the main topic of course being politics, her active mind drifted far away.

Pallavi Malik. Where had she heard that name? Reflexively, a frown creased her forehead as she drowned in her thoughts. Everything was in a veritable muddle. Pallavi Malik...

All of a sudden, a distant memory sparked that explosive idea in her brain, burning her fatally as she finally recognised the name. Pallavi Malik. Her wide eyes shot to Arnav who was still avoiding her. he had scooted against the armrest at the far end of the couch across from her but the younger woman had still managed to get close to him. Her French manicured hand rested on his knee as she spoke dynamically, her head turned towards her mother, against whom she was most probably arguing.

But Khushi could no longer hear anything except for the deafening roar of blood in her ears. She stood up with the speed of a bullet, eyes wide and far off, attracting every one attention. She even felt his burning gaze on her and blushed but did not look back.

"H-humein m-maaf kijye," she stammered. "H-hum abhi aate hain." (F-forgive me. I'll just be back.)

***

He managed to come up with the lousy excuse that he had an important phone call to make and they had let him go. What he had seen in her eyes had nearly blown his heart out. She had heard the rumours then, in this case too, but not the truth. He hurried out of the hall to find the corridor empty barring the one servant who stood there in case he was needed.

"Tumne Khushi ko dekha hai?" he hissed. (Did you see Khushi?)

The man pointed towards the garden. Arnav walked there, fast on his feet like a typhoon. He found her leaning against the bark of a tree by his poolside, fiddling with the edge of her dupatta, her head bent downwards, perhaps looking at the waters that lapped at the stone edge. He silently went to stand alongside her.

"I don't love her," he sighed morosely, wondering if they were destined to confront misunderstandings forever.

"Hum jaante hain." (I know.)

Arnav snapped his head to her when his brain registered her words. She was not looking at him. Instead, she was busy studying the ripples on the water's surface. He remained silent for a long time, staring her while she stared at their distorted reflections beneath their feet, not knowing what to say. He almost smiled as he realised that this time she had understood him. Two pearly white teeth appeared whilst she bit her lower lip and he had to look away before he ruined everything by capturing her in a smouldering kiss he had not been able to stop desiring for months.

"You hungry?" he finally rasped rather dumbly.

***

"Humaari beti bohot hi bhaagyashaali hai," Subhadra claimed in a conceited tone that revolted him. "Arnav jitna achha ladka to sirf kismat se milta hai!" (My daughter is very lucky. You get a boy like Arnav only by forune!)

He felt his jaw muscles contract tightly to prevent an offensive comment from coming out.

"Arnav aur Pallavi ka rishta to bachpan se hi taiy hua tha. Yeh unki maa ki aur humaari ichha thi," the woman piped on. (Arnav and Pallavi's marriage had been decided when they were young. It was his mother's wish.)

He chanced at glance at Khushi but neither was she looking at him, nor was she showing any emotion. It irritated him even more. When he shifted his eyes to Anjali, she seemed to be passing him that silent 'keep calm' message.

"Ab to bas Arnav ki haan baaki hai. Phir hum apni beti ko unke havaale karke aaram se mar sakte hain." (Now, Arnav just has to say yes. Then I'll give my daughter to him and will be able to die in peace.)

"Sorry aunty," he heard himself growl loathingly. "Lekin mujhe abhi shaadi nahin karni hai!" (... but I don't want to get married now.)

Silence fell like a drape around the table. Everyone, apart from him, had stopped eating to stare but he indifferently kept his head lowered as he dug through his plate. Subhadra and Pallavi left soon after dinner, saying they were just passing through Lucknow so they had dropped in for a visit. There was a rally in Ajmer in two days, and having to be there a day earlier, they could not stay any longer.

What annoyed Arnav most was that Khushi remained rather silent throughout the rest of the evening and she did not look his way at all. He retired to his room too, simmering in anger, before dessert was served. Leaning back in his recliner, with his eyes closed, he fumed. Over Subhadra's brash words, Pallavi's s**tty behaviour and Khushi's strange unresponsiveness. A knock at the door interrupted him.

"What?" he barked, sitting up and expecting one of the servants.

But Khushi stood by the door, fretful, looking down. "Voh Anjaliji ne kaha ke aapko yeh kulfi..." (Anjaliji told me to give you the kulfi...)

His hands balled into fists as he strode to her and pulled her inside his room before he closed the doors. He brutally snatched the bowl from her hands, making her jump, and gripped her upper arms tight.

"What's wrong with you?" he gritted out while she frowned at his mad scowl, struggling in his arms because of the pain he was inflicting on her. "Kabse main dekh raha hoon tum mujhe avoid kar rahi ho. What the hell is wrong? Just because of that-" (... I saw you've been avoiding me. [...])

"Chhodiye humein!" she protested with doubled efforts but she just ended up being pulled closer to him. (Leave me!)

"Pehle mere savaal ka javaab do, dammit!" (Answer me first, dammit!)

Khushi couldn't help but be amazed at this man's guts. So, he could avoid her, but she could not? And there was no way she could tell him how she was feeling. She had looked at Pallavi well. Despite the outer appearances and her mother's attitude, she seemed to feel a lot for Arnav but the problem was that, far from liking her, he hated her and that made Khushi responsible. She squirmed obstinately, trying to free herself.

"Aap-" Her eyes prickled slightly because of the tears that had pooled up due to the unbearable pain he was injecting into her with his bare hands. He was them and took a deep breath in. His hold loosened instantly but he did not let go of her completely... (You-)

thanks for the update...plz bring them together...