Differences Between Us :: Arshi FF [COMPLETED] - Page 53

"Bauji?"

"Titaliya, andar aao, Bitiya." (Titaliya, come in.)

Her heart jumped into her mouth at her father's worried expression. He had never before greeted her without a smile. She sit down before him as he gestured her to.

"K-kya hua, Bauji?" (W-what happened, Bauji?)

Shashi Gupta frowned deeply at the floor. "Ajeeb baat hai, Bitiya... Aaj Payal ki shaadi hogayi, aur aaj hi..." (It's a strange thing... Today itself Payal got married, and today itself...)

Her fingers were fidgeting in her lap. She gulped with fear. What had he done?

"Aaj hi tumhaare liye rishta aaya hai." (Today itself, a proposal had come for you.)

"Kya?" Khushi jumped up to her feet, her eyes stretched open wider than ever. Her heart was racing. She couldn't even think straight. Had she heard her father right? (What?)

"Arrey!" Shashi blinked at his crazy but most favourite daughter who was on a thin line between alarm and panic. "Baitho, Khushi. Shaant hojaao." (...Sit, Khushi. Calm down.)

"Lekin, Bauji-" (But Bauji-)

"Baitho," he said, pulling her down by the arm. He smiled at her gently. "Dekho, Bitiya, ladka achha hai, padha likha hai aur paise wala bhi hai. Lekin humein sirf yeh nahin chaahiye tumhaare liye. Hum to yeh chaahte hain ke tum apne ghar mein sukhi raho. Soch samajh ke javaab dena, Khushi." (Sir. Look Bitiya, he is a good guy, he has studied and he is rich. But I don't just want that for you. I want you to be happy. Think well before giving your answer, Khushi.)

Someone knocked at the door, causing both father and daughter to look up with a start.

"Ek minute," Shashi called out to whoever was out there. "Humne suna hai ke ladka thoda akdu hai, lekin damadji ke hisaab se, dil ka bohot achha hai. Hum chalte hain, tum dono baat karlo aur humein baad mein apna faisla suna dena, theek hai?" (One minute. I have heard the boy is a bit grouchy, but according to Akaash, he is good at heart. I'll go, you two talk and tell me, okay?)

He got up to leave but Khushi caught his sleeve. "Voh bahar hai?" she squeaked. (Is he outside?)

Smiling, he patted her hair. "Haan, abhi darna mat! Hum yahin, hall mein hain." (Yes, don't be scared! I'm right here in the hall.)

With a comforting kiss on her forehead, her father was gone and with the soft click that the door was closed, she jumped up from her seat and began pacing in the room. The only thing she could hear was the pounding of the blood in her ears. She was on fire. Literally. Her face was growing hotter by the minute. She couldn't even see where she was walking until a pair of strong hands closed around her shoulders.

"Khushi?"

She lifted a pair of confused eyes on him. She stared at him blankly before realising what had just happened.

"Yeh aapne kya kiya?" she spluttered. (What did you do?)

Arnav smirked down at her arrogantly. "Your dad didn't tell you?"

Her knees buckled and she fell into a heap on the little pouffe that her father used as foot stool. "Nahin!" she whispered on to herself. "Hum sapna dekh rahe hain! Voh khoonkhaar Laad Governor? Aur humse shaadi? Abhi abhi to bade gusse mein the... Nahin! Yeh koyi bura sapna hai!" (No! I'm dreaming! That murderous Laad Governor? Marrying me? He was just so angry at me... No! This is a nightmare!)

Her face brightened as she ranted on. "Haan! Yeh ek bura sapna hai! Hum abhi jag jaayeinge aur dekheinge, key eh sab to hua hi nahin!" (Yes! This is a nightmare! I'll just wake up and see that none of this happened!)

"Khushi!" she felt herself being shaken. Arnav dropped to his knee in front of her. "Tum theek to ho?" (Are you okay?)

"Aap ab bhi yahin par hain?" she wailed, munching on her thumb hysterically, making his face crumple. (You are still here?)

"Yeah," he replied uncertainly.

Her hands immediately scrunched his collar menacingly. "Aapne sach mein Bauji se humaara haath manga?" (You really asked for my hand?)

"Khushi, tum-" (Khushi, you-)

"Kyun?" (Why?)

He grimaced incredulously at her.

Her hands flew to her temples. "He Devi Maiyya!"

Arnav winced. "Why are you being such a drama queen over this, dammit?"

"Kyunki yeh sach hai hi nahin!" (Because this is not real!)

"Tum pagal ho." (You are crazy.)

"Pinch me!"

"Really?"

"Ji haan!" (Yes!)

He rolled his eyes and pinched her on the upper arm, causing her to hiss sharply. He sighed and rubbed the reddened skin with his thumb to soothe it. "Convinced now?"

She was pouting at him with a frown. "Yeh sapna to nahin hai, na?" she muttered. (This is not a dream, is it?)

Despite himself, he smiled. What a naive girl. "No."

"Aapne Bauji se kya kaha?" (What did you say to Bauji?)

"That I like his second daughter and that I would like to have her as my wife." Khushi blushed and bit her lip as he smirked at her wolfishly. "Ab tum jaake apne Bauji se iss rishte ke liye haan kehdo." (...Now go and tell your Bauji you agree.)

But she was shaking her head. "Kadaapi nahin!" (Never!)

"What the-?" Arnav snapped. "Why?"

"Aapko pehle humse humaara haath maangna hoga! Aur voh bhi jaisa filmon mein hota hai!" (You have to propose to me first! And it should be like in films!)

He grimaced, standing up immediately. "What the hell? No way, Khushi!"

"Theek hai," she shrugged, getting up too. "To hum Bauji ko bataa dete hain ke hum raazi nahin hain." (Fine. I'll go tell Bauji I don't accept.)

His eyes widened with anger. "Wait! Dammit! You're always trying to make things more difficult, right?"

She raised her chin defiantly. "It's not like you have to propose in front a million people, Arnavji! Sirf hum hain yahaan." (...It's just me here.)

"Khushi-"

"Aap humaare liye itna bhi nahin kar sakte?" (You can't even do that for me?)

He huffed impatiently while Khushi grinned at him, waiting. He was breathing fire. Wasn't it enough that he had fallen hopelessly in love with her? That he had asked for her hand despite his resolution to wait for her father's sake? No. It wasn't for this crazy woman. She actually wanted him to get down on one knee and propose.

"Hum intezaar kar rahe hain," she sang. (I'm waiting.)

Whatever! He wasn't getting down on his knee. But what the heck was he supposed to say? Actors usually had their speeches written up and practiced. What about him? He had no scripts or anything, dammit! And the girl was maddeningly obstinate.

"What if I don't do it?" he gritted out.

Khushi pursed her lips. "To shaadi ke liye mana karleinge!" (I'll refuse!)

"Seriously?"

She nodded, making him wince.

"Fine," he mumbled with an annoyed tone. "Marry me!"

Her eyes popped out with consternation whereas her mouth opened into a wide O. "Aap humse humaara haath maang rahe hain, ya humein zabarbasti shaadi karne ko keh rahe hain?" (Are you proposing or forcing me to marry you?)

Arnav sighed in frustration. "Marry me?"

She looked away. Damn her! Why was she so difficult?

"What do you want me to do, Khushi? I have never proposed anyone before, dammit!"

She was still looking away, increasing his fury. He grabbed her by the elbow and turned her around to find her shaking with silent laughter.

"What?" he groaned.