Chapter 18

CHAPTER 17

Recap: "Haan haan! Koi baat nahin. Come Niyati. I'll show you around."

"Tum busy ho. It's alright. Please don't bother."

"Maine kaha na. It's not a big deal. Please."

Niyati couldn't refuse any further, even though the last thing she wanted to do was to go along with him. She got up reluctantly from her seat and followed him.

 

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                    "So, this is Atrium. Subah yahi mile the hum sab," Rey explained.

"Oh! Ise Atrium kehte hain?", Niyati exclaimed more to herself, remembering Swayam's face in the morning. But it was loud enough for Rey to hear.

"Kyun? Kya hua?"

"Nothing much." He was still looking at her to elaborate. He's not going to let go, is he? She thought before replying. "Kota mein ise hum lobby kehte the. Maybe that's why Bhai looked a little confused in the morning."

"Oh. Alright. So how was school? Tum wahan day scholar thi kya?", Rey tried to small talk.

 "Locker rooms kahan hai?", She asked suddenly, in a clear attempt to divert the topic.

"Ye girls ka locker room hai. Boys ka corridor ke us taraf hai. You have received your locker number and combination, right?"

"Ji. Can you please wait a minute? I'll be back."

"Sure."

Great. He wasn't off to a very good start. He needed to suss her out, if he wanted to know why she behaved so differently with him. Come to think of it, he realized that she addressed to him with tum' as opposed to the aap' she used for everyone. Weird he thought. Pehle aap ajeeb lagta tha, ab tum ajeeb lagta hai. Ye donon behnein mujhe paagal kardengi.

He couldn't delve on these thoughts much longer, as Niyati made an appearance again. He looked at her questioningly and she huffed before replying "Mujhe apna locker dekhna tha. Location and combination check karna tha. So? Where to next?"

"Common room?"

After showing her the Basketball court, Library, most of her classrooms, they reached their final destination.

"Ye hai hamara Rehearsal Hall. Hum dancers ki place of worship. The most cherished spot in the whole college."

Niyati stepped inside. For some reason she couldn't fathom, she missed Taani terribly all of a sudden. Taani never elaborated, but she did mention that Rehearsal Hall was very special for her. And standing at the very spot so sacred to her sister, she felt nostalgic and claustrophobic. She wanted to be left alone.

Schooling her expressions so that Rey didn't get an inkling of her inner turmoil she said "Thanks for showing me around." Then she turned around and simply left leaving him open- mouthed behind her.

Ajeeb ladki hai.

 

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The entire gang minus Swayam, Rey, Aashi and Niyati were deep in conversation back at the canteen. And the topic of discussion you ask? None other than our newest arrival, Miss Niyati Shekhawat. Without having to tone down everything they said about her in the presence of her overbearing brother, all were on a roll.

"Guys, Main jab locker room gayi thi na, some girls were commenting on Niyati's clothes", Rini began. "She really must improve her dressing sense. Ye salwar suits kaun pehenta hai aaj kal?"

"Arre kapde chodo yaar! Her eyes", Simmi interrupted. "I swear jab who stare karti hai na, mere heartbeats fast ho jaate hain."

"Baat bhi nahin karti. Na khud karti hai aur na kisi ko karne deti hai," Bharat said.

"But she's smart yaar, dekha nahin tha kaise usne Nil ko chup karwa diya tha subah," Vicky guffawed.

"Ha ha. Very funny!" Nil grumbled.

"I know. It was"

"Shut up dude!"

"Tum logon ne notice kiya kya? Swayam Niyati ko lekar kaafi protective hai," Sharon said before she could control herself.

"Hum kyun notice karenge? Tum ho na notice karke humein inform karne ke liye!!" Simmi teased.

"Shut up yaar!" Sharon chided her back.

"I think Sharon is right", Kria said after a while. "Maine bhi kabhi Swayam ko itna over protective nahin dekha. Kal Niyati ke ghar pohonchte hi rapid fire questions karne laga. Even throughout dinner, un donon ka interaction...I can't even describe."

"Itna toh who Taani ke liye bhi worried nahin tha," Rini said before anyone could stop her. Kria stilled, hanging onto her every word like lifeline. It seemed her Universe Ji was fulfilling her desire to get to know Taani after all. "Remember Taani ka first day? Swayam uske saath bhi nahin tha. Aur ab Niyati ke saath shadow ki tarah ghoom raha hai."

"Taani akele aayi thi college ko?" Kria asked nonchalantly.

Sharon got the gist and quickly attempted to disperse everyone. "Chalo guys! Bohot hogayi faaltoo baatein. Let's get some work done."

Kria sighed. Another attempt thwarted. Was she never going to know the girl that mattered to Rey at all? She had tried talking to everybody, but just like Sharon they all had come up with excuses. She then had an epiphany. She had spoken to everybody except one. And she knew it was going to be an uphill task to convince her.

Precap: Freshers' rehearsals

 

[NOCOPY]

[MEMBERSONLY]