The Beats Of My Heart | Meri Dil Ki Dhadkan

2

I got dressed and Payal did my makeup while I sat down. She made me face away from the mirror so I wouldn’t be able to see myself.

"Payal, what are you-"

"Ssh! This is your life at stake. Now ssh!"

I sighed. "There really is no point you know. My life isn’t worth anything."

Payal stopped and crouched down. "Look Khushi, you have to gain courage. Stop thinking that you’re not worth anything. You're one in a million- not even! You’re one in infinity! Okay? Now shut up."

I smiled a little bit. "Thanks Payal, you’re really sweet, and you always say the nicest things."

"That’s what friends are for - to be there for their moping friends."

I sighed. "But no matter what you say, I always feel useless. Besides, what’s the point of all this? I should just get married to some random guy and-"

"Listen gurl, if you do that YOUR life is over! There’s more out there for you, you just need that time to arrive."

"But when?" I looked up at her. "When will that time come? I used to believe in things like that. Remember how I used to dream that someday I would meet the man of my dreams? How I would meet someone that would understand me? How the minute he came near me, my heart would race up, and by one touch my heart would stop." I looked out the window and sighed. "Too bad life isn’t a fairy tale."

"Look Khushi, it’s because you keep thinking this way that your prince is delaying. So start to believe that he’s out there, and watch how one day you’ll meet him."

Just then there was a knock at the door.

"Payal, come out. It’s time to take Khushi downstairs, everyone is waiting for you."

Payal got excited. "Okay Aunty-ji!" She covered my face with my dupatta and whispered, "wait till they see you." She smiled and opened the door.

Amma came in and led me downstairs. I could see the guy through my dupatta. 

Ew! This was the guy my parents wanted me to marry? NO WAY!

My mother then unveiled my face. The family stood up immediately and his mother shrieked.

Payal came running in. "What happened?"

The guy's mother pointed at my face and Payal looked at my face. "Khushi! What did you do?!" She came to me to try to 'fix it'. "Oh my gosh! No matter what I do it’s getting worse!"

She moved away so they could see my face and the guy's mother shrieked more and said "there is no way my son is marrying her," and dragged her family out. My parents went to try to reconsider with them when Payal winked at me.

"Oh my gosh Khushi!" Payal grabbed my face and observed. "What did you do? I told you not to itch your eyes but you probably did it anyways!"

My parents came back and looked at me and sighed. They left to their room and we followed from behind.

"It seems like we’ll never get her married." Amma sighed from babuji’s remarks.

Payal looked at me. "You’re welcome," and she went upstairs.

I was about to go up when babuji said "this is hopeless. There’s no point in trying to do anything with her. She’ll just mess up again."

Tears formed in my eyes, and I ran upstairs. I quickly undressed and got into other clothes. I washed my face and cleaned up and Payal just watched in shock.

"What are you doing?"

I didn’t reply. I just did what I did and grabbed my bag, and left outside. She followed me and from seeing me grab my bag, she understood immediately.

Soon we arrived to our hanging spot: an old dancing studio where I would go whenever I felt down. I dropped my bag, grabbed my iPhone and played my music really loud and stared at the mirrors that were all around the grand room. Once I felt the beat, I just started to move. After that, I didn’t even think. I just moved to the music. Payal watched as I finished and whistled.

"You go girl!" She ran and gave me a hug, and then looked at me. "Your amma said something?" 

I shook my head. 

"Your babuji did?! No way! Wow, well I hope they learned their lesson."

"No Payal, don’t say that."

"Why not? They’re your parents and they don’t understand you. They raised you for crying out loud!" She sighed and shook her head. "Look let’s just forget about it and go out and have fun. You’ll also feel better. Then again you just danced your heart out so I can’t promise anything."

I cracked a smile. This is why she’s such a good friend. I grabbed my stuff and we went out.

We walked around the city and decided to go shopping. We walked into the mall and bought a whole bunch of clothes. It’s a good thing that I had a lot of money with me. There was a huge sale!

We walked out of a store when Payal said "yo! Let’s get something to eat. All this shopping is making me tired and hungry."

"Sure, why not."

We went all the way to the top of the mall where there was a nice restaurant and a spectacular view. We sat down and ordered our food. We ate and I finished up first. Payal was always slow and ate a lot, but wouldn’t gain weight! We always wondered what was up but she always says 'eh! So what?'

I got up and was about to walk to the washroom when someone walked into me. I was about to fall when they grabbed me by my waist. I opened my eyes and saw a guy, dressed in a suit with aviators on. I stared up at him, confused, unsure what to do or say. He didn't do, nor say anything either. We looked at each other continuously. He lifted his free hand up and removed his aviators. I was even more speechless as I looked into his eyes. For some reason I felt uncomfortable and really, really embarrassed. I could feel my face turning hot and when I realized that I had my arms around his neck I became more nervous. 

 Just then someone dropped water and shrieked. We both came back to reality and I stood up straight. He continued to stare at me, and I felt even more uncomfortable. That’s when Payal came running over, thank goodness. 

"Khushi are you okay?!"

The man put his glasses back on and walked away, several men dressed in black walking behind him. Payal and I couldn't help but stare at him - who was that guy? What’s his name? Where is he from? Then I thought: why do I care so much?