Chapter 12

CHAPTER 11

 

                    Niyati stepped out of the cab and took in the sights around her. Mumbai was completely different from Kota. The foliage, the streets, the weather, the purposeful movement of the masses, never stopping, never heeding, never sparing her a single glance overwhelmed and relieved her at the same time. She shook herself out of her musings and squared her shoulders. She was looking for a fresh start and what better place to start than The City of Dreams.

"Bhaiya, ye saara samaan please darwaaze tak chod dijiye" she requested the cab driver.

When the cab driver had been paid and dismissed, she walked towards the door and was about to ring the bell when her phone started ringing. She looked at the caller id and couldn't help but roll her eyes.

 

"Haan dadi amma! pohonch gayi hoon Mumbai"

"Haan to batana chahiye than na, mujhe kya khwaab padega ke tu pohonch gayi hai?"

"Yaar, Mumbai hi hai koi kumbh ka mela nahin jo kho jaungi! Tu bhi bohot over react karti hai!"

"Acha acha! Bas bohot hogayi meri tareef. Ye bol address toh mila na tujhe?"

"Haan behna! Main darwaaze par hi khadi hoon." She rang the doorbell. "Suna? Ghanti bhi baja di hai maine".

"Waise not bad huh? Kaafi achi jagah hai" she said turning about and looking around her. "No wonder tera dil lag gaya tha yahan. Warna tu toh bore... 

She froze when she heard the door open, the call long forgotten for the moment.

                                                                               

 

**********

         

 

 

                                        Rey had been craning his neck, trying to get a glimpse of the new arrival. He didn't know why but he wanted to know what Swayam's sister was like.  The moment Swayam opened the door, Rey grunted in frustration because he could see someone standing at the doorstep, but he couldn't see her owing to the fact that his best friend stood RIGHT IN FRONT BLOCKING THE DAMN VIEW!! Saamne se hat mere bhai Rey whined in his mind. And coincidently, as if he had heard him, Swayam opened the door wide and stood aside.

 

                    Rey felt as if all the air had been knocked out of him. Felt as if he had run headlong into something. Because standing at the door with her back facing him, was the mirror image of Taani. Same petite figure, more or less the same height, waist length hair that blew with the wind. She even wore a dress similar to the one Taani had worn on their first date. The onslaught of memories and pain the figure in front of him brought on was too much for him to bear. Rey sank into the nearest sofa, one step short of pulling his hair out or shouting aloud in agony. He settled for clutching his head between his hands and looking down. He didn't want to see her.

 

"Hi bhai."

He looked up. He couldn't help himself. His jaw dropped... Literally. The girl standing in front of him could never have been Taani in a million years. His mind automatically began to draw out the differences between the two. While Taani's mere presence and exuberance would lighten up the room, Niyati was serious and on point. Taani was so clumsy she could be called a walking- talking disaster. On the other hand, Niyati presented a picture of poise and grace. But one difference overweighed all.

Her eyes.

Taani's eyes were full of mischief, happiness and a child- like wonder that only suited her. Niyati's eyes... Rey couldn't define properly. His mind groped around, trying to put that feeling into words. Her eyes were clever, he settled on that, but not shrewd or calculative. And penetrating. He felt as if she could reach into the depths of his very soul. And there was pain. Lots of it. Niyati was in pain. But she was brilliant at hiding it. And if there was one person who knew what it felt like to be in pain constantly and not show it, that was Rey.

 

                                                                                                    ************

 

 

 

Swayam stared at the figure in front of him. It had been two years since he had seen her last. And she looked different. He suddenly felt scared. So scared that he felt rooted to the spot. So scared he couldn't make the first move. Both of them stood there for what might have been ages.

 

Hi bhai!"

And just like that, the ice broke. That voice calmed him down, like it did countless of times in the past. He rushed forward and hugged her with such force that she was swept of the ground. The movement was so sudden and unexpected that her phone slipped from her hands and landed with a thud on the floor.

 

"Hello? Neeti? Meri aawaz aarahi hai kya? Arre main bhi hoon yahan!! Aap donon mujhe kaise bhool sakte ho?"

 

All the heads turned to Rey, who couldn't even explain what he was feeling on hearing that voice. Hearing it for the first time in over 9 months. Hearing her.

 

Precap:

Rey right? Tumhe kaun nahin jaanta she said, a faint trace of animosity coloring her voice. Rey immediately felt uncomfortable at her appraisal. He could easily predict that they would never be friends. Blasted horoscopes!! They are never right! How in the world was I ever to be friends with her??!!!

[NOCOPY]

[MEMBERSONLY]