Chapter 35

Chapter 30

 

It wasn't until a few days later that Kria managed to find a chance to talk to Niyati. She was always around the gang or Swayam and the matter she wanted to discuss with her required more privacy and discretion. Today however, she incidentally found out Niyati's class had been suspended, so she set about looking for her. After looking for her about every place she could think of, she found out she was up on the college terrace. Finding that strange, she came up to the terrace to find her sitting on the floor leaning against the wall, buried in her book.

"Hmmm, tumhari choice thodi hatke hai", she began while walking towards her. Niyati looked up with a start. "Relax! It's just me. Waise normally jab log study karna chahte hain, toh library prefer karte hain."

"Right. By now aapko ye realize hojaana chahiye ke main normal logon mein se nahin hoon." Kria looked awkward at that. Seeing her uncomfortable Niyati continued, "Lighten up Kria! I was just joking. Batayiye, aapko koi kaam tha?"

"Baat karni thi tumse. I know it's not the right time, tumhare exams and all."

"It's alright I needed a break anyways. Kahiye, kya baat karni thi aapko?"

"How do you find everyone in the gang? I mean haan, thode se loud aur outspoken hai. Kabhi kabhi etiquettes ki bilkul bhi care nahin karte. But they are not bad. Ache log hai. And..."

"Kria!" She interrupted her. "Do you recall the first time you met me at our home?" Kria nodded. "Then aapko ye bhi yaad hoga ke maine kaha tha Bhai considers you all his family. And I firmly believe, family sticks together. No matter what. Haath ki paanchon fingers ek jaisi nahin hoti, lekin jab who mutthi ban jaati hai toh kisi ke daant tod sakti hai". Kria smiled at that. "Now then, with that out of the way, batayiye asal baat kya hai?"

"What do you mean?"

"Yahi, ke aapko kuch aur baat karni hai. You are just being courteous."

Kria thought for a moment and perhaps Niyati thought she wouldn't say anything after all, began reading her notes again.

"Tum Rey ko kitna jaanti ho?" Kria was still tip-toeing around the topic.

"Not much." She didn't elaborate further and took a swig from her bottle of water.

"Do you like Rey?" She asked when she could contain herself no longer.

Niyati was so shocked from her question that she sprayed the mouthful of water everywhere. "What?!!" She asked incredulously. "Are you out of your mind? Aap jaanti hain aap kya keh rahi hain?"

"Look, please don't get me wrong. Tumhe hurt karne ka mera koi intention nahin hai. Naa hi main tumhe accuse kar rahi hoon. I'm genuinely curious. Tumhare aate hi Rey differently behave karne lage hain. So..it got me thinking..."

"What makes you think that has anything to do with me?"

"A girl always knows. Plus, I saw you both pass a look the other day in canteen. Niyati looked confused. Kria elaborated, the day Rey ne mere physio sessions par aane ke liye agree kiya tha."

Understanding dawned on her. So Kria had misinterpreted the interaction between both. It was quite understandable. She had no inkling what had transpired between him and Niyati since that altercation in the Rehearsal Hall. And so she had worked herself the conclusion that there was something going on between the both of them. Niyati could laugh at that absurd idea.

"Shekhawat family ke do log waise hi Rey ke deewane hai. Aap kya chahti hain, poora ka poora khaandaan uske peeche pad jaaye?" She joked.

Kria smiled at that. "Hmmm, tab toh really problem hojayegi."

Both fell silent for a minute. Kria was relieved that she had been imagining things. Ever since she left Rey the first time, she was always scared he might want to return the favour. And with her recent injury, she held Rey like a lifeline. Niyati on the other hand was troubled. She kept wondering if that was what everybody else thought. Pondering over her words, she felt Kria was right in judging and misinterpreting.

Rey's behavior with and towards her was different from any other girl he interacted with. She would affect him more, rile him up easily and adding to the list now was making him do things she wanted. Niyati didn't know why Rey let her get under his skin. Her rude behavior, her accusations, her cold anger bothered him. So much so, that he showed up at her doorstep well in the middle of the night, just to clear things up.

She thought she should clear the air while she could. Everybody were more likely to believe Kria than believe her. "Kria, I know this is going to sound odd. But Rey hamesha mere liye who ladka rahega jise Taani ne pasand kiya tha. And if you think both the sisters are going to fall for the same guy, then main aapko inform kardoon, ye real life hai koi star plus ka show nahin. Rey aur mere beech kaafi differences hai, jo pata nahin kabhi door honge ya nahin. But for the moment, hum na friends hai aur na usse kuch zyada.  I hope aage ye issue kabhi uthega nahin. Because I don't know about you but mujhe kaafi awkward laga."

Kria smiled sheepishly and said, "I am really sorry. I don't know mujhe kya hogaya tha." Then she stole a glance at Niyati and decided no time was better than the present to ask her about Taani.

"Niyati, Taani ke baare mein kuch bata sakti ho kya?"

Niyati looked a bit surprised. "Kyun? Rey ya kisi aur ne kabhi kuch nahin bataya?"

"Nahin. Aisa nahin hai." She didn't want to tell her the truth. If Niyati found out nobody had told her anything, there was a good chance she might keep everything under a wrap too."But tum uski behen ho. There are things jo sirf family jaanti hai. Aur tumhara point of view bhi sabse alag hoga."

"Hmmm? Kahan se shuru karoon?" mused Niyati. "I think Taani ki sabse striking feature uski innocence hai. Bachpan se hi who bohot masoom aur sada rahi hai. Ghar ki laadli thi woh. Jo bhi chaha use maangne se pehle hi mil gaya. Par itne laad dulaar k bawajood bhi woh hamesha grounded rahi hai. Sahi galat ki pehchaan aati hai use. But personally agar mujhse koi pooche toh mujhe Taani ka easy going nature bohot pasand hai. Woh kisi se bhi asaani se dosti kar leti. Uska bubbly nature har kisi ko khush kar deta tha. Uske chehre par smile hamesha rehti thi jise dekh kar saare din ki thakaan utar jaati. Bohot helping, bohot caring thi. Ghar ke har member ka khayal rakhti thi. And let me tell you apni joint family thi. Ghar ke kaamon mein toh perfect thi hi, khana banane ke maamle mein bhi jawaab nahin tha uska. Aur bhi bohot kuch hai bas ye samajh lo woh sarvagun sampan thi."

Kria kept listening to her without even battling an eyelid, as if her entire life depended on it. But with every passing word, her heart grew heavier. If this was how Taani was like, it wasn't any wonder the gang had never told anything about her. She seemed to be the very definition of perfect. She was so lost in her thoughts that she almost missed Niyati's next words. "Lekin jaise duniya mein koi bhi cheez perfect nahin hoti, waise hi Taani bhi koi ideal ladki nahin thi. Kaafi kamiyan thi us mein jinhe maine kaafi time tak ignore kiya. Maybe being her sister made me very biased. Khair, this I can safely say, ke uske positive traits definitely over-weigh all her negative ones. Ab itna hi kaafi hai ya aapko kuch aur bhi poochna hai?"

          Kria merely smiled.

 [MEMBERSONLY]

[NOCOPY]

anu142016-04-21 21:37:07