“Taani Raichand.” She heard her name and walked up the stage.
The chief guest handed the degree certificate to her and posed for the camera to capture the picture. She looked past the cameraman at the audience and noticed two people cheering the loudest for her. She shook her head at Arjun and Purvi’s enthusiasm and looked over at others, some of whom were just clapping absent mindedly while the others were busy clicking pictures of themselves with the graduation hat. She walked off the stage and came to where Arjun was standing. They both waited for Purvi, who after getting her degree danced down the stage.
“I can’t believe that we’ve graduated!” Purvi smiled with glee at them.
“Tum log yahan ho? Everyone is waiting outside!” Naina dragged them out.
“There you are! Kahan the tum sab?” Varun asked them.
“Kahan the matlab? Bina certificate ke yahan photoshoot ke liye aaye?” Taani complained.
“Accha next kisse click karwani hai?” Aman asked.
“Me, me, me!” Purvi ran before anyone else could.
“Pagal!” Arjun muttered as she started posing for the camera.
“Voh toh hai hi pagal. But uss se bada pagal tu hai.” Taani looked at him.
“Taani yaar don’t say that. This decision was not easy for me.” He sighed.
“Maine kab kaha ki easy tha. But tujhe chance mil raha tha, you just let it go.” She smiled sadly at him.
“Maine usse promise kiya hai Taani. Until and unless her parents forgive us, I am going to stay away from her.”
“Arjun tujhe nahi pata ki voh kitni koshish kar rahi hai unhe manane ki. Every day she tries calling them but uska phone koi receive hi nahi karta. Voh mujhe dikhati nahi but I know how upset she is. Aur jab usse yeh pata chalega..”
“Usse pata nahi chalega. Promise me you won’t tell her.” He said urgently.
“Of course, I won’t! Pagal khudko blame karna shuru kardegi.” She calmed him. “But are you gonna at least inform her?” She asked.
“Tum dono yahan kya kar rahe ho? Pics nahi leni?” Sanaya yelled at them. “And Arjun come on teri aur Purvi ki couple pics bhi toh leni hai.”
Purvi’s face dropped on hearing that. But she pulled herself back together when she saw Arjun walking towards her.
“For old times sake?” He whispered to her and she just nodded at him.
They all clicked a few more pictures and made several boomerangs of tossing their hats up in the air. Once they were tired of jumping around, they finally settled in the canteen.
“Taani?” Naina called her.
“Haan?”
“Tere baju wali seat abhi tak khali kyun hai?” She asked.
“Seat bharne wala toh Australia jaake baitha hai.” Taani thought. “I hope everything is fine. He hasn’t called since yesterday.”
“Exactly!” Sanaya exclaimed snapping Taani out of her thoughts. “Naina and Aman out of all people have started dating, why are you still single?” She asked.
“Excuse me?” Both Aman and Naina took offence at that.
“Shut up you two! We all know that you both dating is the most shocking news of the century.” Varun hushed them.
“I disagree to that.” Arjun said coyly looking at Taani.
“Accha, what gossip do you have?” Sanaya rubbed her hands in anticipation.
“I know what he is talking about.” Purvi smirked.
“Obviously you do!” Aman retorted.
“Shut up!” Purvi replied in the same tone.
“Wait a minute!” Naina looked at the two and asked, “is it true that you two have broken up?”
“Where did you hear that?” Purvi widened her eyes at her.
“People talk.” Naina defended herself.
“It’s partly true.” Arjun agreed to it. “We haven’t broken up, but we technically aren’t even dating.”
“What?” Aman looked confused.
“Hum dono ke personal reasons hai.” Arjun ended the topic. “And I have a stale but fresh for you gossip.”
“What?” Sanaya asked.
“Taani? Bol du?” Arjun looked at her and everyone’s attention turned to her.
“Itna sab bolne ke baad kya puch raha hai? Go ahead, tell everyone that I’m getting engaged!” Taani sneered.
“What? When? Who? Why didn’t we know about this? How long have you been dating?” She was barraged with questions from everyone.
“When - No one knows. Why - As there was a lot of back and forth confusion going on to announce it to everyone. How long - Well, it’ll be almost a year in a few months.” Arjun answered their questions.
“And who is this lucky guy?” Naina asked.
“You guys have met him!” Purvi exclaimed.
“When? I don’t remember Taani introducing anyone.” Aman said.
“Come on Aman you clicked their pictures on her birthday. Yaad aaya kuch?” Arjun asked.
“Haan! But uska face yaad nahi aa raha. Wait I have my hard drive with me. Dekhe toh sahi kaun hai yeh banda.” Aman pulled out his laptop and connected the hard drive to it.
“You guys carry on, I’m getting late. Office se half day leave leke aayi hoon. Late pahuchi toh my boss will kill me!” Purvi stood up collecting her stuff.
“Purvi.” Arjun called her. “Kuch baat karni hai.”
They moved out of the canteen. Purvi saw him struggling with words and finally asked, “Arjun baat kya hai?”
“I’m moving to Pune.” He closed his eyes and said in one go.
“Pune? Kyun? I mean aise achanak?” She questioned.
“Isn’t it better till uncle forgives us? I mean agar hume milne ka kabhi mann kare toh we’ll get at least four hours to rethink and to keep our promise.” He explained.
“But why you? Yeh sab meri wajah se hai na. I’ll leave.” She argued.
“Pagal hai kya. You’ve already got a job here. Yeh chodke tu kahin aur kyun jayegi?”
“And you?”
“I have applied at a few places there. Kahin na kahin toh mil jayega.”
“Arjun, I’m sorry.” She felt guilty.
“For what? Both of us are bearing the pain of separation for the larger good, right?” He made her look at him.
“I love you.” She swung her arms at him.
“I love you too.” He hugged her back. “And I’m just a call away. If ever you want to talk to me, I’ll be always there for you.”
He walked her off to the gate and walked back in to find everyone teasing Taani.
“No wonder yeh photos itne acche aaye hai. You guys look so good together.” Aman complemented.
“Why didn’t you introduce us to Rey?” Naina asked.
“I was unsure where we were, at that stage.” Taani replied.
“You were unsure about him?” Sanaya pointed at the screen. “Girl you’re crazy!”
“Exactly!” Naina agreed to her.
“Excuse me?” Aman looked at her.
“You’re good but look at him!” She disregarded him and pulled up Rey’s Instagram account.
“Seriously Naina? Taani ke saamne uske fiance ko checkout kar rahi ho?” Arjun taunted.
“Main toh bas dekh rahi hoon ki jeeju ki personality kya hai.” Naina scrolled through his account. Sanaya, Varun and Aman were latched as well.
“Jeeju!” Arjun chuckled while Taani sat glaring at them.
“Shaadi nahi huyi hai ki jeeju bula rahi ho!” Taani pulled her phone and closed the app.
“Possessiveness toh dekho.” Varun teased.
“I’m leaving!” Taani got up.
“Arre party?” Aman asked.
“Kaunsi party?” She asked.
“Teri engagement ki, par voh tu baad mein de dena.” Varun teased. “We are talking about our graduation party jo shaam ko hai.”
“Shaam ko hai na. I’ll go home and come. Tab tak Purvi bhi free ho jayegi.” Taani informed.
“In that case, main bhi nikalta hoon. I have to complete some paperwork so office jaake unka sir khana hoga warna next month tak meko bulate rahenge.” Arjun got up cursing the office staff.
“Cool then. Shaam ko milte hai.”
…
“Great! Aaj hi mujhe apni gaadi nahi laani thi na? Ek cab nahi mil rahi! Ola and Uber should just shut down! Not a single cab available!” Taani was frustrated standing for twenty minutes for a taxi.
“Aye item kahan ja reli hai?” She heard someone call.
“What the fu..?” She looked around to see who the source was.
“Arre bata na.” This time it was loud and clear than before.
She saw a car standing a few feet away from her. She started to move inside the college gate.
“Arre hello madam, kahan bhag rahi ho?” The driver poked his head out of the window.
“Vicky!” She sighed in relief and moved to the car.
“Hi!” He waved at her.
“Why were you catcalling me?” She glared at him.
“Wasn’t me.” He pointed at Nil who was sitting beside him and innocently waving at her.
“Bye!” She sneered and walked away.
“Arre wait!” Nil got out of the car and ran behind her. “Sorry. Main bas mazak kar raha tha.”
“That wasn’t funny!”
“Sorry.” He genuinely apologized. “Aage se tujhe kabhi item nahi bulaunga. Abh chale?”
“Kahan?”
“Jahan aap le jaana chahe.”
“What?”
“Arre Taani he means ki since tujhe cab nahi mil rahi, we’ll drop you.” Vicky said.
“Why are you guys taking trouble?” She tried to refuse.
“Aur kitni der aise dhup mein rukegi? Chal, we’ll drop you.” Nil took her bag off her shoulder and walked to the car.
“I guess I have no say.” She followed and got in the car.
“So finally, graduated haan, kaisa laga raha hai?” Vicky asked to start a conversation.
“I don’t really know. It hasn’t sunk in yet ki college khatam hogaya hai.” Taani smiled thinking about it. “Waise tum dono yahan kaise?”
“Ghar pe bore ho raha tha toh bas ghumne nikle and then somehow reached here. Phir tujhe dekha wahan toh ruk gaye.” Nil explained.
“Line maarne ke liye?” Taani taunted.
“Rey se pitne ka koi shawk nahi hai meko.” Nil rolled his eyes making her giggle.
“Speaking of him, when is he returning?” She questioned.
“Tujhe bhi nahi pata?” Vicky asked in disbelief. “Kaisa hai re yeh pagal.” He cursed Rey.
“Aur kaunsa itna office ka urgent kaam nikal aaya hai?” Nil joined him.
“Hoga kuch.” Taani smiled lightly. “Inhe abhi tak pata nahi hai shayad.” She thought.
“Vicky, understanding dekh raha hai iski. Rey yahan iske itne important day pe nahi hai phir bhi she isn’t mad.” Nil stated.
“Issi ko toh pyaar kehte hai pagle.” Vicky commented.
“Tum dono pagal ho.” She shook her head and then realizing something she looked out of the window. “Why are we on this road?”
“Rey nahi hua toh kya hua? Hum tere saath celebrate karenge. Right Vicky?”
“Correct! We are going out for lunch.” Vicky announced.
“Why are you guys taking trouble?” Taani tried to refuse.
“Isme trouble kya hai? Hum vaise bhi vele hai.” Nil raised his shoulders carelessly.
“Rey has sent you as a proxy right? As he couldn’t be here?” Taani asked after a while.
“Kyun hum tujhe lunch pe leke nahi ja sakte?” Vicky counter questioned.
Taani took out her phone and began typing. Nil snatched it out of her hand and threw it in the dashboard.
“No texting while driving!” He said.
“I’m not even driving!” She protested.
“Car rule, no mobile phones allowed!” Vicky said.
“Main bas ghar pe inform kar rahi thi ki late hoga.”
“Sorry Taani, but hum rules nahi todte.” Nil refused to give her the phone back.
Taani sat back with her arms folded while they blasted music. “I hate you Rey for this!” She mentally cursed him for sending his friends as his replacement.
After about an hour and a half of driving, Taani had finally gotten comfortable around Nil and Vicky. They kept her entertained with their constant bickering and the casual snarky comments targeted at anyone and everyone.
“Guys I’m asking you for the last time, where are we going? Mumbai se kaafi dur aagaye hai hum.” Taani asked.
“Hum tujhe kidnap kar rahe hai.” Nil passed her an innocent smile.
“I’m serious! I need to reach home latest by six.” She said and frowned as the car halted on the narrow road in the middle of nowhere.
“My guess is none of us is reaching home by six.” Vicky turned off the engine and got out of the car.
“Kya hua?” Taani asked.
“Wait here, let me check.” Nil too got out when he saw Vicky opening the bonnet.
Taani waited patiently inside the car. After some time, it became too quiet for her to handle. She called out their names, but they didn’t answer. Fear slowly creeped its way into her. Building up a lot of courage she opened the door and got out to find no one. She was alone. She gazed around but couldn’t see them. She started to panic. She went back to the door to get her phone out and call someone. She pulled on the handle, but the door was locked. She ran around the car and realized that all the doors were locked. She screamed their names but still no response. Sweat had started to form on her forehead but she tried to maintain her calm. She went around the car again to see if she could spot them when something covered her eyes. She stood still for a short minute but then started yelling.
“Calm down luv, it’s me!”
“Rey?”
“Yes luv?”
She recognized his voice and hugged him. He soothed her back and assured her that she was safe. She went to remove the blindfold covering her eyes when he stopped her.
“Not yet.”
“Arre? I can’t see anything.” She protested.
“Keep it on for a couple of minutes. Tumhare liye surprise hai.” He whispered in her ears sending chills down her spine. “Chale?”
“Mujhe kuch nahi dikh raha how am I supposed to walk.” She argued.
“You don’t have to luv.” He picked her up in his arms and started walking.
He walked into a house while opening the door with his back and in the process hit her leg on the door frame.
“Ouch!”
“Sorry!” He apologized.
Once inside he carefully made her stand on her feet and removed her blindfold. She slowly opened her eyes adjusting to the light in the room. She noticed a table set for two in front of them. The room was filled with sweet scents of candles. She looked at Rey and saw him grinning back at her.
“Rey yeh sab kya hai?” She asked.
“Pehle yahan baitho.” He made her sit at the table. “You wanted to celebrate this day with me, and I felt awful for not being here. So, to compensate, I planned this surprise for you.” He kissed the back of her hand and sat next to her.
“You’re spoiling me!” She pouted.
“I’m allowed to.” He winked at her.
“Yeh sab kya hai? When did you plan all this?”
“Kuch itni bhi badi planning nahi ki hai maine. Yeh Swayam ka farmhouse hai. I landed early morning then came here and made a few arrangements.”
“Nil aur Vicky se mujhe kidnap karwaya voh?” She narrowed her eyes. “Waise voh dono hai kahan?”
“They left. Dono ko maine bas bola tha to get you here without you finding out that I was in town. Abh dono ne kaise kiya voh pata nahi, but it worked!” He grinned.
“Dono ne mujhe for sure daraya!” She complained.
“Daraya? Did Nil flirt with you?”
“A little.” She replied meekly hoping it wouldn’t make him mad.
“Yeh ladka kabhi nahi sudhrega.” He shook his head making her smile at his response.
“Yeh kya hai?” She picked up the bottle placed in the ice filled bucket on the table. “Sparkling water?” She made a face at him.
“Tujhe kya laga champagne hai?” He cocked his brow at her.
“Haan I mean, generally toh celebrate karne ke liye champagne open hoti hai na?”
“Pehle bolti yaar, airport se do bottle utha laata.” He chuckled.
“I don’t want to drink.” She opposed immediately.
“I know.” He nodded at her. “Aaj hum iss paani ko champagne samajh ke pee lenge!”
“It’s not like I don’t ever want to. But I’m afraid what if I’m not able to handle it?” She expressed her concern.
“Phir toh meko careful rehna hoga.” He closed the top button of his shirt making her jaw drop.
“What the hell, Rey!” She swatted his hand.
“Wanna try?” He suggested.
“No!” She refused.
“I’m honestly asking you, try karna hai? Kuch hua toh I’m here.” He assured.
“Yahan kahan milegi?” She asked partially giving in to the temptation.
“Come.” He held out his hand.
She took it and followed him up the stairs. It was a cozy house with a hall, kitchen and a bedroom downstairs. On reaching the top of the stairs, she noticed a blue cabinet in front of her. She furrowed her brows and questioned him. He asked her to wait and moved forward to open the door of the cabinet. He eyes popped open on seeing the completely full bar cabinet.
“So, what would you like to have?” He asked.
“It..na..wh..y..k.kk.. what?” She blinked her eyes to make sure she wasn’t hallucinating.
“Yeh toh kuch bhi nahi hai, you haven’t seen the bar at home.” He brushed it off.
“You have a bar at home?” She squealed.
“Haan.” He chuckled at her reaction.
“Kis bevde se shaadi karne ja rahi hoon?” She gulped hard.
“Oh hello? Collect karna pasand hai, iska matlab yeh nahi hota ki main alcoholic hoon.” He glared at her.
“And why haven’t I seen your collection?” She sneered.
“You don’t drink.” He defended himself.
“You have a point.” She agreed.
“Ab bol, karna hai try?”
“I..” She contemplated looking at the bottles.
“Itna mat soch. Try karna hai kuch toh this is an amazing opportunity.”
“Yes.” She answered.
“Really?” He asked to confirm, and she nodded. “Great then, what would you like?”
“Okay don’t laugh, but I wanna try Tequilla shot. Neat.” She spoke feebly.
“Neat?” He looked at her with eyes open wide and an amusing smile on his face.
“Why? Is it bad?”
“No, it isn’t. But I must say that’s a bold choice.”
“You know what, forget it. I changed my mind.”
“Good! Cause yahan Tequila nahi milegi. Sharon hates it.”
“I meant..”
“Don’t you dare lie!” He warned her.
“I’m scared Rey.”
“Main hoon na to look after you. Jyada se jyada kya hoga? Chadegi? Mujhe utarni aati hai. Relax!” He calmed her down. “Now pick, Gin or Vodka?”
“Vodka?” She answered unsure.
“Absolut? Nice!” He pulled out a bottle. “You’re in for a treat!” He grinned and pulled out a crate of beers before closing the cabinet.
“That sounds extreme.” She looked at him worried.
“You’ll handle it, don’t worry.”
“Rey!” She shook her head sideways.
“Fine. Main dusri dekhta hoon.” He opened the cupboard and searched through it. “Grey goose! This one is great, trust me.” He pulled out the bottle and just below it he saw something. “JD? Isko yahan chupake rakha hua hai.” He pulled it out and smirked.
“Rey hum wapas ghar kaise ja rahe hai?” Taani asked looking at the numerous bottles in his hand.
“My car, how else?” He replied.
“I think we should skip the drinks today.”
“Sab nahi peene wala. Tension mat le.” He chuckled at her concerned face.
They walked back down and settled at the table. Rey set the shot glasses down with a piece of lemon next to Taani’s. He opened the vodka and whisky bottles and poured it into the glasses. He picked up the whisky and waited for her to pick up her drink. After contemplating a lot, Taani finally held the glass and raised it to his.
“Cheers!” He said and gulped it in one go.
She gulped audibly and took the glass to her mouth. Exhaling deeply, she closed her eyes and gulped down the thirty milliliters.
“It burns!” She said making a face.
“Have this.” He held he lemon slice at her mouth.
“I can feel the burning sensation down my chest!”
“It’ll be fine in a minute.” He assured her.
“How do you guys do it?” She asked on seeing him pour a drink for himself.
“Overtime you start to enjoy the burning sensations.” He chuckled as he poured some sparkling water in it to dilute.
“I can literally feel the heat inside of me!”
“Did you like it?”
“It didn’t taste like anything. It just felt like I was gulping spirit.”
“To be fair vodka is bland.”
“Pehle kyun nahi bataya?”
“Yeh try karna hai?” He gestured at his drink.
“I don’t wanna mix. I’ll stick with vodka.” She made a drink for herself.
“Congratulations on graduating!” He bumped his glass with hers.
“I still can’t believe you came here early just for me.” She said with a dreamy smile.
“Tere liye yeh sab nahi karunga, toh kiske liye karunga?” He returned her smile.
“Tum aise kyun ho? You always make me wonder what I did to deserve someone like you?”
“That is a question I keep asking myself.”
“Rey, I’m serious! Aaj hi ka example lo, maine just bataya tha tumhe ki I want to celebrate this day with you, and you made it happen! Even though you had something way more important up your sleeve.”
“Yes, taking care of that legal issue was important. But granting you your wish was as important to me as that.” He held her hand in his.
“You make me feel bad about myself.” She pouted.
“Kyun?”
“Tumne mere liye kitna kuch kiya hai. What have I done?”
“Tumne mera saath diya hai.” He answered.
“Voh toh tumne bhi diya hai. Nothing special about that!”
“Tumhara saath is the most special thing ever in my life!”
“Rey!” She got up to hug him but stumbled as soon as she got up.
“You alright?” He got up in concern.
“I’m fine, just a little lightheaded, I guess.” She assured.
“Drinking empty stomach was a bad idea. Let’s put something in there.” He made her sit.
“Do you intentionally say something like that?”
“What?” He wondered what he said and burst out laughing on understanding. “Sorry, I meant food.” He laughed more.
“Be specific next time.” She giggled. “Khane mein kya hai?”
“Lasagna!” He grinned.
“You love Italian cuisine, right?” She smiled and inhaled the delicious aroma. “It smells amazing!”
“Yes, I do. What about you?” He asked serving her a portion.
“Chinese, Vietnamese, basically hot pots and noodles.” She took a bite and looked at his expecting gaze. She narrowed her eyes at him and then it hit her. “You made this?”
“How’s it?” He nodded.
“It’s delicious. There’s no way you made this!”
“Don’t you dare doubt my cooking skills. Subah se bohot mehnat karke banaya hai maine!”
“Chalo accha hai, shaadi ke baad I won’t be starving.” She said tongue-in-cheek.
“Main roz roz nahi banane wala.” He argued.
“Alternate days bana dena. I don’t mind eating stale food.” She bit her tongue.
He just shook his head and took a sip of his beer. She observed the bottle as he kept it back on the table.
“Go ahead. Have a taste.” He pointed at the bottle.
“I’ve heard it doesn’t taste good.” She replied.
“Rubbish!” He disregarded it. “It just has a strong taste.”
“Okay.” Taking his word, she took a sip and immediately gagged. “Ew! How are you even drinking this?”
He laughed at her expressions. She gulped down her entire drink to mask the taste of beer in her mouth.
“Easy there!”
“You did that on purpose na?” She sneered at him.
“Sorry.” He said trying to maintain a straight face.
They finished lunch whilst constantly chatting about something or the other. After they were done, Rey suggested to go for a walk outside to help them both sober up. She agreed and they walked hand in hand quietly exploring their proximity and also the nature. They returned back after a twenty-minute walk.
“Feeling better?” He asked her.
“Haan. Still a little lightheaded but I'm fine. Better.” She replied.
“Thank God! Tension mein aagaya tha main. Teko aise ghar leke jaata toh Shivam meko zinda gaadh deta!” He shivered at the thought.
“Tum jab bhai se aise darte ho tab bohot cute lagte ho.” She pulled his cheeks.
“Very funny!” He rolled his eyes at her.
“Rey..” She stopped him at the door.
“Hmmm?” He looked back.
“I love you.” She confessed.
“Kya kahan? Say it again!” A grin formed on his face.
“I’m in love with you, Reyansh Singhania. You were so right when you said that one day I too will fall in love with you. See it happened!” She smiled as tears started forming in her eyes.
“I love you, Taani!” He pulled her into a hug as his eyes started watering. “Tum nahi jaanti ki aaj main kitna khush hoon! I love you!”
“I know Rey. And I have been trying to tell you this for a few days par bol hi nahi pa rahi thi. You have no idea how bad I felt when you thought that I don’t love you back.”
“Toh uss din kyu nahi bataya?” He broke the hug and cupped her face wiping the tears that were flowing down her face.
“Pata nahi khud ko kyun rok rahi thi. Kaunsa imtehaan le rahi thi, mujhe khud nahi pata.” She too cupped his face and wiped off his tears.
“Main taras gaya tha tumhare muh se yeh sunne ke liye.” He kissed her forehead.
“Jaanti hoon.” She shut her eyes close.
“Bas ab rona band karo.” He wiped her face dry.
“Tum bhi.”
“Main kahan ro raha hoon.” He argued.
“Haan haan, aakhon se paseena aa raha hai na?” She taunted.
“Chee! Bohot ganda tha!” He started laughing while she pouted at him.
His gaze fell on her lips and he stopped. She looked at him and found him opening and closing his lips while licking them intermittently. She then looked into his eyes and found his staring back at her. She shied on getting caught while checking him out but didn’t move. He made her look back at him and she gulped seeing the intensity in his eyes. She took a step towards him. He too closed in the gap and leaned down at her. She looked down and breathed heavily but didn’t move back. He inched forward and placed a kiss on the corner of her lips and moved back, unsure of her reaction. She stood staring at him while he tried to go in again to kiss her. He placed another kiss on the other corner of her lip and moved back but this time she stopped him. She caught on to his shirt and leaned in. He closed the gap between them. He molded his lips perfectly with hers as he sunk his hands in her hair. She held the collar of his shirt and raised on her toes to maintain contact with his lips. Suddenly, he felt a tug on his collar and she pulled back and ran inside the house. He followed her in and found her barfing at the toilet sink. He walked up to her and held her hair back and rubbed her back to soothe her. He helped her clean up and they walked outside. He offered her water to drink and she took it without looking at him. She was too embarrassed to meet his gaze.
“Yaar mana kar deti kiss nahi karna tha toh, itna over dramatic hone ki kya jarurat thi?” He teased.
“Sorry!” She said still looking down.
“Shut up.” He quieted her. “It’s alright. It was your first time.”
“You mean you have done this before?” She shot a look at him.
“Alcohol you idiot!” He rolled his eyes and shook his head.
“Oh accha!” She looked away embarrassed. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. People remember their first kisses for various reasons. This will be a first!” He raised a brow at her and she buried herself in his chest. “Chale? Ya rukna hai?” He wrapped his arms around her.
“Thodi der baad nikle?” She asked getting comfortable in his embrace.
“As you say luv!”
“Hi Shivam bhai, hi Sid.” Purvi greeted them as she entered the house.
“Mujhe bhai aur isko bas Sid kyun?” Shivam asked.
“Question Taani about this.” She defended herself.
“Voh hai kahan? Badi badi baatein kar rahi thi ki college se jaldi ghar aayegi and what not.” Sid taunted.
“Voh ghar nahi aayi?” Purvi wondered.
“Nahi.” Shivam answered.
“But she left college long ago. In fact, mujhe Naina ka call aaya tha abhi asking if Taani and I have left for the party.” Purvi said.
“Ghar toh nahi aayi hai voh.” Shivam informed.
“Rey se milne gayi hogi.” Sid said.
“Rey Mumbai mein nahi hai.” Purvi told him.
“Let me call her.” Shivam dialed her number but got no answer.
“Maybe she reached there now. Call them and ask ki Taani wahan hai kya.” Sid suggested.
“Hello? Aman?” Purvi tried to focus on his voice.
“Haan Purvi, tum log nikle ya nahi? Aur kitna late karoge? We’re waiting for you.” Aman screamed over the loud music.
“Taani wahan hai?” Purvi asked.
“Tum dono saath aane wali thi na, kya hua?” Aman asked.
“Are you sure she isn’t there?” Purvi was alarmed now.
“Can you speak loudly, I can’t hear you.” He screamed into the phone.
“Bahar nikal wahan se aur baat kar.” Purvi shouted.
“Tu Arjun se baat kar.” He handed the phone to Arjun.
“Haan bol Purvi.” Arjun asked over the phone.
“Taani wahan hai?” Purvi questioned.
“Nahi. Voh college se ghar gayi thi.” Arjun informed.
“She’s not at home Arjun.”
“Ek minute.” Arjun caught on to her alarmed voice and exited to go to a quieter place.
“Tum log kya faltu ki bakwas kar rahe ho?” Shivam took the phone from Purvi and turned the speaker on. “Taani college se kab nikli thi?” He asked.
“One-thirty two, mostly.” Arjun answered.
“And how was she coming?” Shivam questioned.
“Cab lene wali thi.”
“Where is she?” Shivam shouted.
“Shivam calm down, let me try calling her again.” Sid dialed her number and got no response.
“Arjun tu yahan kya kar raha hai?” Sanaya came to him.
“Taani ghar ja rahi hai ye bolke nikli thi na?” Arjun asked her. They all could hear their conversation.
“Haan.” Sanaya answered. “Par..”
“Par?” Arjun asked.
“Usse bohot der tak cab nahi mil rahi thi. I was upstairs and could see her through the window. Phir bohot der baad she took a lift.” She informed.
“A lift?” Shivam questioned.
“Lift?” Arjun asked her.
“Haan, two guys came in a car and offered her lift.”
“You didn’t find that weird? Couldn’t you inform earlier?” Arjun glared at Sanaya.
“I did find that absurd when the guy pulled off her bag off her shoulder, but she voluntarily followed him in the car. So, I thought it might be her fiance and so I didn’t tell anyone. Kyun, kya hua?” Sanaya asked as his faced tensed up.
“Her fiance is out of town and Taani hasn’t reached home nor is she picking up her phone.” Arjun informed.
“What?”
“Yes!”
“Uske ghar pe inform kiya?” Sanaya asked.
“Haan, I’m talking to her brother right now.”
“Arjun usko puch if she has seen any of the guys before.” Shivam said over the phone.
“Aap speaker pe ho and no she hasn’t.” Arjun informed.
“So, you didn’t think that it was important to inform your friends that you saw her going off with some unknown guys?” Shivam blasted at Sanaya.
“She didn’t protest in any way, so I assumed that she knew them. Why else would she get into their car?”
“Thanks for your help. Please don’t mind Shivam. We are just worried about Taani.” Sid apologized and disconnected the call.
‘Keep me informed!’ Purvi received a text from Arjun.
“What are we going to do?” Shivam panicked. “Kiske saath gayi voh aur uska phone kyun nahi utha rahi?”
“Complaint bhi nahi file kara sakte. It hasn’t been twenty-four hours yet.” Purvi said.
“Are you saying that she has been kidnapped?” Shivam looked at her.
“Agar voh hota toh abh tak phone aajata. Plus, her phone is still on.” Sid argued.
“Not anymore!” Purvi informed.
“Battery might have died.” Sid was still being positive.
“How are we going to find her?” Shivam sat down holding his head.
Just then the doorbell rang and Purvi rushed to open it. Taani grinned at her and entered in.
“Taani!” Sid sighed in relief.
“Hey Siddo!” She grinned at him.
“Where the hell were you? Aur phone kyun nahi utha rahi thi?” Shivam glared at here.
“Hey bhai.” Taani ignored his questions completely. “Purvi I really can’t come to the party, tu chali jana.” Saying so she moved to her room.
“Taani!” Shivam shouted.
“Good night bhai!” She went inside her room.
“Isse kya hua?” Sid wondered.
“Hey.” They all turned to the door to see Rey waving at them. “Taani forgot this in the car.” He handed a bag to Purvi.
“Tum Mumbai kab aaye?” Purvi asked him.
“Aaj hi.” He replied.
“Holy shit!” Sid widened his eyes and grinned at Rey.
“Teko kya hua?” Rey asked him.
“Taani ke iss behavior ka reason toh tere face pe saaf dikh raha hai!” Sid walked up to him.
“What?” Rey narrowed his eyes at him and Shivam looked up to see Rey.
“I didn’t know tujhe lipsticks lagane ka shawk hai. Tere lips pe clearly dikh rahi hai Taani ki lipstick.” Sid teased Rey. “Seems fresh, abhi goodbye kiss diya?” Rey flushed at his comment.
“Yeh usse de dena. I have to leave. Bye!”
Hello everyone
Look who's updating finally! I honestly don't know how I've managed to write it, gotten very busy with life. Hope you guys enjoyed the confession.
Please comment down below
Posted: August 14, 2019
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