AASHIQUI : chain bhi..dard bhi

Chapter 6

A surge of excitement runs through me as we enter the garage. The gift I ordered Faisu a couple of days ago finally came in and I can't wait to give it to him. Ohh yes i call him Faisu now as he insisted because that's what he likes from his close friends which is only faiz and now...me.

Heat surges from my inside to my cheeks so I distract myself to the thing I brought I'm hoping it not only works but puts him in a good enough mood that he'll be on board with an idea I've been ruminating on for a bit.

"Mai tumhare liye kuch lai hu," I tell him as we sit on the chairs Since we'll be working on reading passages and answering questions tonight, it's the perfect opportunity for him to test it out.

His eyebrows shoot up. "Again?"

"Yup. Only this time, I know it's gonna work." I root around my purse for the pen and pull it out. "This is a reading pen. Basically, you scan a line of text and it reads it aloud for you." I open my folder and take out a piece of paper containing one of the passages. "Here. Try."

He examines the pen. "It looks expensive."

It was. But only because I wanted to get him a really good one. It was totally worth digging into my car fund, though, because I know this will be a game changer. Especially if he agrees to let me talk to Mrs. Heera.

Shaking his head, he places the pen down. " I appreciate it, but mai ye ni le sakta"

Is he crazy? "Of course you can. Mai jnti hu ruler se jyada madad ni hui but this will. I did a lot of research and this one is supposed to be the best—"

"Ye bohot mahega hai"

I don't understand why he keeps focusing on the price tag. "So what? I don't want you to pay me back, I just want you to use it."

A sound of irritation escapes him, and he stands. "I'm not a charity case, Jannat"

I honestly don't get why he's making such a big deal about this.

"Maine esa kab kaha?."

"Pizza is one thing. Lavish gifts are another."

I can't help but laugh because he's being ridiculous. "It's just a pen,Faisu. Ye lavish kis angle se hai."

My comment only makes him angrier. "Maybe not to you, Daddy's princess. But hr kisi k paas rich dad ni hote jo apne bccho pr jb chahe jisliye paiso ki barsaat karde"

Ouch. I'm the farthest thing from a princess.

I also didn't ask my dad for a penny. I bought it with money I saved up over the years from babysitting and tutoring.

And while my dad makes a very good living and I've been fortunate to never have to go without, I'd hardly call him rich. Songwriters aren't millionaires like people seem to think. Even after they write a hit song.

"My dad didn't pay for this." Tears prickle my throat, but I force myself to swallow them. "I did." To my absolute horror, my voice cracks and my vision blurs. "Mai bs tumhari madad krna chahti hu Faisu."

Humiliated at the thought of him seeing me cry, I turn around.

"Shit." I hear his sharp exhale of breath before his fingers skim my shoulder. "I'm sorry. It's just...tum mere liye itta q krti ho yrr...mai itta sb deserve ni krta"

That's not true. He has more raw talent in his pinkie finger than most musicians out there today have combined. But even if he didn't, he still deserves my friendship and support.