Differences Between Us :: Arshi FF [COMPLETED] - Page 38

When he had asked to be with her parents alone, it had been with the intention to ask them her hand. They had offered no objection, Garima had been ecstatic and they had announced it to their daughters that evening itself. Khushi and La had been very happy for their sister. But Payal had played quite hard to get.

Her eyes had remained fixed on the floor, red but dry, and she had cleanly refused to her father before returning to her room. Akaash had nearly had a stroke when Khushi and La had been sent to announce it to him but the sisters had miraculously been able to agree on a point together for once and hatched a plan. Akaash Dogra would have to woo Payal. And he had with great success because barely a couple of days later, Payal returned from the market, blushing like a new bride, with Akaash close on her heels and he had said that they were getting married.

Soon, a heavy party had already settled in Shantivan. The panditji had come up with a date within the coming three weeks, else they would have to wait for another six months, to which Garima and Akaash vehemently opposed. Shivanee returned amidst the wedding preparations to find that Lavanya and Khushi had bonded more than before. And the trio orchestrated every single thing to give Payal the perfect wedding.

But inside, Khushi felt hollow. Not just because she had lost the most precious of her possessions but also because among all those guests who were coming to see her sister and family, not once had she seen Arnav Singh Raizada. She had met Anjali quite a few time though, but she too avoided being at the Gupta house too often because she had seen Shyaam Manohar Jha in the vicinity the second time she had been there. She told Khushi that seeing him had opened so many old wounds afresh that it was unbearable. So, she had stopped coming.

***

It was clear that Akaash Dogra's sister did not appreciate Payal and the Gupta's, but they were pinching their noses and swallowing the bitterness because of their brother. Sometimes they irked Khushi with their high-nosed attitudes but she mostly felt pity for them. The sangeet was going to be held at Shantivan upon Kalavati and Malvika's insistence. And the girls would have to go there for the mehendi too.

Khushi had decided she would take her mind off her payals and kangans, as well as that Laad Governor who had disappeared without a trace, during the next few days for her sister's sake. She could not let her suffering overshadow Payal's happiness.

"Chamkili, voh lip gloss pass karo na!" (Chamkili, give me that lip gloss!)

La's voice jerked her out of her thoughts with a shake and she handed her sister the tube. Right then, Shivanee and Payal barged in with sly smiles. Khushi smiled at her elder sibling in the mirror. Payal was looking so radiant and beautiful that she would outshine the grandeur of the Dogra sister who thought so high of themselves. Looking at the red lehenga, Khushi had to admit her brother-in-law had a really good taste. Then, she chuckled. Why just the clothes? One just had to see her sister to qualify Akaash's taste.

Payal: http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o573/ShikhaKhushi/Payal_zps6b279d1d.jpg

Shivanee was looking splendid too. At first, when she had shown Khushi and Lavanya the dress, La had been quite skeptical. The yellow, gold and white seemed not to sit well with her fair skin, but now, she looked beautiful.

Shivanee: http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o573/ShikhaKhushi/Shivanee_zpsef90cb90.jpg

"Saj-dhaj to aise rahi ho jaise shaadi tumhaari badi behen ki nahin, tumhaari ho!" Shivanee teased. (You're dressing up like it's not your sister's but your own wedding!)

Lavanya turned around with a grin. "Oh, come on, Shivanee. Hum bhala jiji se baraa-bari karsakte hain? Lekin ek baat to maanni padegi, meri! Jiji ki shaadi hai, hum teenon ko bhi apne liye koyi dhoondhna padega, na?" (...Can we compete with jiji? But you have to agree! It's our sister's wedding, the three of us should also start looking for a guy, right?)

Lavanya: http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o573/ShikhaKhushi/Lavanya_zps2f941ea7.jpg

The girls giggled and Payal walked over to Khushi.

"Laal rang mein tu bilkul dulhan lag rahi hai, Khushi!" she said, pinching her sister's cheeks. (You look like a bride in red, Khushi!)

"Aah! Jiji! Chhodo, na! Dukhta hai!" Khushi squealed as she rubbed her reddened cheeks, turning around to look at herself in the mirror. (...Leave me! It hurts!)

Khushi: http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o573/ShikhaKhushi/Khushi_zps3c40d965.jpg

Her eyes softened as suddenly, she thought of Akaash's best friend again. It was the night of the sangeet. He should be there for the groom. Would he be?

***

"Kisse dhoondh rahi hai tu?" Shivanee hissed in exasperation. She had been desperately trying to tell Khushi about her new niece but her friend was busier raking her eyes through the throngs of guests, definitely looking for someone she couldn't find. (Who are you looking for?)

Khushi's head snapped to Shivanee, her eyes wide and her cheeks burning with embarrassment as she shook her head. "Hum? Nahin to! Hum kisse dhoondheinge?" (I? No! Who will I look for?)

Her friend narrowed her eyes at her, full of suspicions. "Tujhe bachpan se jaanti hoon, Khushi. Tu mujhse to jhooth mat bol! Kissko dhoondh rahi hai?" (I know you since we were kids, Khushi. At least don't lie to me! Who are you looking for?)

Before Khushi had the occasion to reply, a pretty young lady in a pink and red saree came up to them, beaming widely at her and hugged her tightly.

"Khushiji, kaisi hain aap?" (Khushiji, how are you?)

Khushi smiled back at Anjali when she pulled back. "Theek hain, aur aap?" (Fine, and you?)

Anjali: http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o573/ShikhaKhushi/Anjali_zps929d2546.jpg

When Anjali nodded pleasantly, Khushi almost asked her about her twin but she held her tongue back at the last moment.

"Aapke Babuji ab poori tarha se theek hain, na?" (Your father is completely well now?)

"Ji, voh-" (Yes, actually-)

But Anjali had glanced at her phone and hit her palm with it absent-mindedly. "Yeh Bhai kahaan reh gaye?" (Where is Bhai gone?)

Khushi felt her eyes literally pop out of their orbits. Laad Governor was there? Really there?

"Aapke Bhai bhi yahaan hain?" she blurted, forgetting about Shivanee completely, though the girl did not miss the blush that was creeping up her friend's cheeks. (Your brother is here too?)

"Hmm," Anjali nodded with a slight frown. "Abhi abhi to aaye hain! Matlab, ek-do ghante to bhi gaye. He's just getting ready. Aate hi honge. Lekin itni der kyun laga rahe hain? Hum abhi dekh kar aate hain." (He had just arrived! I mean it's been an hour or two. [...] He'll here soon. But why is he taking so long? I'll just see and be back.)

Khushi stared at the space Anjali left blank behind her, munching her lip with her eyes wide in stupefaction. Shivanee edged closer curiously. "Voh kaun thi?" (Who was she?)

Her friend jumped and looked at her with horror. She finally calmed down and glanced at the corridor into which the woman had disappeared seconds ago. "Anjali Raizada," Khushi breathed.

"What? You mean... you mean Arnav Singh Raizada's sister?"

Khushi nodded earnestly. Seriously, what was wrong with Shivanee. The girl had clapped her hands on her mouth and was staring at Khushi as though she were the abominable snowman in flesh.

"I-dof-bed-vif-vif," she heard Shivanee say, her words muffled against her palm. Khushi frowned as she reached up to remove her friend's hands from there.

"Kya?" (What?)

"I don't believe this!"

Khushi's frown only deepened. "What?"

"Tu... tu... tu? Aur voh?" (You... you... you? And he?)

"Hum aur... Kya hua hai tumhein?" Khushi hissed, shaking her friend. (I and... What happened to you?)

But Shivanee ended up grabbing Khushi and shaking her back. "Tu usse pyaar karti hai?" she squealed. (You love him?)

"Kisse?" Khushi squeaked. Her voice had gone down noticeably and she had paled, confirming Shivanee's doubts. (Who?)

"Ar-" Khushi immediately blocked Shivanee's mouth with her palm, eyes wide, because if she didn't realise it, she was going to scream the name out. They looked around awkwardly to find Garima shooting death glares at them.

"Chalo!" Khushi whispered as she dragged the two of them to the backyard. (Come!)