Chapter 2 - Talks and Dreams (Part 1)

CHAPTER 2 - Talks and Dreams( Part 1)

Hello everyone!! I am really sorry for not updating for over a month. I have been really caught up in the fight for Justice for Sushant Singh Rajput and my work. Finally I have managed to fix my schedule. And the fight continues.

But the updates will also continue. That is a promise. For both this story and Beyond Love - A New Saath. :)

This Chapter is titled 'Talks and Dreams-Part 1' for a reason.You will understand once you read.

Next chapter will be Part 2.

Thank you for the encouragement and all the likes and comments!

Enjoy!!

"A lot of problems in the world would disappear, IF we talk TO each other and NOT ABOUT each other."

"Bhai??" Taani called out.

"Time to begin," thought Swayam.

He took a deep breath.

"Taani, I have taken care of you since your childhood. Mujhse behtar tumhe koi jaan nahi sakta. Sivay tumhare."he began gently.

She looked at him puzzled.

"I know tum bewajah naahi kisi par chillati ho. Naahi rudely behave karti ho. Selfish toh bhul jaao." he said staring straight ahead.

"Then why D3 gang?? Tum unke saath rudely baat kyu karti ho?? I understand tum GS ho, tumhe apni authority enforce karne ka right hai. Still, I know tum aise tab tak nahi karogi jab tak koi absolute necessity nahi aa jaati. Kya baat hai Taani??" he asked, facing her.

Taani, who hadn't expected him to actually understand her with all the ongoing problems, was relieved that he did. 

Atleast now..she wasn't alone.

She looked at Swayam who was waiting for her to answer.

She looked away from him, wondering how to begin.

"Bhai..aapko yeh nahi dikhta ki woh mujhse kaise baat karte hai?? Baat baat pe non-dancer bolna. Yeh kehna ki unke liye main sirf aapki behen aur Rey ki girlfriend hun. Maine unhe apna dost maana tha Bhai. But it turns out they never were my friends."she said shocking Swayam.

"Ek minute." she said fishing out her phone. 

She opened the college website and handed her phone to Swayam.

Swayam went rigid with shock. There were so many negative comments against his sister! They had labelled her a by-chance GS, a non-dancer and so many other things. On top of that they had labelled her as undeserving of Rey. Anger distorted Swayam's features. He stood up abruptly, his knuckles clutching the phone tightly.

"What crap is this?? They are attacking you on a personal level Taani!! Tum khudko ek perfect GS toh prove kar sakti ho. But your relationship with Rey is bloody personal! How can they comment like this?? Inhe aur koi kaam danda nahi hai?? Khud itne cheap aur dusron ko bolne chale. Inki kal main college mein aisi haalat karunga ki.." he rattled on angrily when something struck him.

He turned to face Taani who was staring at his reaction. "Tumne mujhe bataya kyu nahi??" he asked her.

"Aapne kabhi pucha??" she retorted.

Swayam became silent.

"Uss din jab main washroom mein thi...yahi comments padhke tut gayi thi. Par aap Sharon ke ghar chale gaye..aur Rey ko bhej diya." she said lost.

Guilt took over Swayam. He stared at the sand beneath his feet.

"Its ok Bhai. Aap Sharon aur NDC,D3 team ke saath busy the..isliye maine bhi aapko kuch nahi bataya."she said gently. 

But her words pricked him even more. He walked toward the sea, the waves splashing at his feet.

"No Taani..its not..its not ok!!I should have been there but..main khud nahi tha.I..I.." he struggled for words.

Taani went to him and placed her palm on his shoulder. He turned toward her.

"I..I am sorry Taani. Main tumhara dard pehchaan tak nahi paaya. Sharon,D3 team..yeh sab meri priorities hai..par tum meri duniya ho." he spoke, overwhelmed with emotions.

"Maine vaada kiya tha ki tumhe kabhi akele nahi chodunga aur...itne saare problems ke beech..tumhe akela chod diya." he said hanging his head down.

Taani cupped his face with her hands and wiped his tears. She made him face her.

"Aisa mat kahiye Bhai..you recognized my agony. Aap ho toh sahi mere saath.Har kisi se galti hojaati hai..please aap aise roiye mat."

"I am sorry.." he said again.

She hugged him tightly. Both of them felt a certain comfort and peace in that embrace. They felt like they had re-discovered one another.

Swayam wiped his tears and released her. They stood soaking in the calm silence before Swayam spoke again.

"What has this got to do with the D3 team??" he asked confused.

She did not reply. Suddenly he realized the direction in which her thoughts were flowing.

"You think D3 gang ne bhi yeh comments kiye honge??" he questioned her.

"What do you expect Bhai?? They keep calling me a non-dancer.They refuse to understand me. They behave so rudely. And the comments on the website are of a similar nature." she said pained.

Swayam shook his head and sighed. No wonder,everything had become so complicated!

"I have to clear this mess up." he thought.

"Taani." he held her shoulders and turned her toward him."Do you understand them??" he probed.

She stared at him not knowing what to say.

"You say tumne unhe apna dost maana. Do you really think they will stoop this low?? Ask your heart Taani."

Taani thought over it for a few moments,going over her past memories with the D3 gang. She realised she could be wrong.

"Bhai..woh.." she stammered.

"Taani woh immature hai. Par dil ke ache hai. They know who is a friend and who is an enemy. Woh dushman ko maarenge lekin saamne se. Peeche se nahi. Aur dost..Taani remember we hurt only those who we consider our own. They too are angry with you, kyunki tum bhi unke saath aise behave kar rahi. Same is with you.Its all a case of mis-communication. Galti tum dono se hui hai." he said and paused to let her ponder over his words.

Taani walked away from him, her mind working on his words. She realized all that he had said was true.

"Taani??" he called her, making her turn around.

"Its getting difficult for Rey too. He loves his Dil and Dosti equally." he said making a point.

She knew he was right. She had solved the dance and Dil part of Rey's problem. It was time to solve the Dil and Dosti part.

"Aap sahi keh rahe ho Bhai. D3 team itna neeche kabhi nahi gir sakti. Aur humare ladai ke wajahse Rey ko bhi problem ho rahi hai."

She took a deep breath. "Thik hai.Maine gang se baat karungi. Agar woh mujhe apna dost maante hai toh woh zarur mujhe samjhenge. Thanks Bhai..for making me understand." she smiled.

Swayam grinned. "That is like MY sister!!" he said proudly and patted her head.

"Acha tumhe mujhse kya baat karni thi??"he asked curious.

"Woh..I told Tauji about Rey being a dancer." she said.

"What??" he asked shocked.

"Haan..aur Tauji ka reaction sunkar aapko aur jhatka lagega." she giggled and narrated to him,all that had transpired between her and his father.

He stood dumbfounded. On one hand he marvelled at Taani's love and maturity and on the other,his father's words about him left a warm feeling in his heart.

"Papa ne sachmein aisa react kiya???Mere baaremein itna sab acha kaha??" he asked her still unable to believe.

"Haan Bhai..he loves you deep down." she smiled.

He wiped a lone tear of happiness.

"But itna bada decision??" he asked her.

"Haan..Bhai before I fell in love with Rey,the person and his ideologies,I loved his dance..the real emotions he poured into his dance, making it come alive. How could I keep him away from it?? Isliye..I took this decision putting my trust on Krishnaji." she said her voice growing emotional at the thought of Rey.

Swayam caressed her hairs lovingly. "I am proud of you Taani." he said.

She smiled widely. After spending some more time on the beach, they left.

Next morning,

Swayam had left for college early. Taani was getting ready to leave, her mind pre-occupied with the thought of what would happen once she would face the gang today.

"Taani??"Tauji called out breaking her reverie.

"Ji Tauji??"

"Yaha baitho beta." he motioned to the empty space next to him,on the sofa.

She sat down. He handed over what looked like property papers to her.

"Yeh kya hai Tauji??" she asked perplexed.

"These are the papers of the Mumbai and London branches of Shekawat Industries. That part which belonged to your father. I have been taking care of it since so many years, Taani. Now that you are about to complete your graduation, I am revealing them to you." he said as she scanned the documents.

"Taani tum yeh toh jaanti thi ki tumhare papa tumhe businesswoman bante hue dekhna chahte the. You have read that letter which your parents left you. I realised the time had come for you to know about these branches. After you complete your MBA you are going to take over these two companies Taani. I very well know your love for business. Finally, you will be handling the entire Shekawat industries after me." he stated.

She looked at him and then at the papers in her hands.

It was her father's dream for her.

Her future.

Her career.

"Thank you Tauji. Aapne mere liye itna kuch.." she started but he cut her short.

"No Taani.Yeh toh mera farz tha. And I will assist you till its needed until you  take over the companies." he said caressing her hairs.

She looked up at him and smiled warmly.

"Main apne aur apne papa ke sapna zaurur pura karungi. I will do it." she said determinedly.

Taani hugged the papers tightly to her chest.

On the other hand, Rey stared at his phone's homescreen which had his and Taani's pic as its wallpaper.

"I am sorry Taani..Aaj joh main karne jaa raha hun..usse tum tut jaaogi. But I need to do it..for your own good. So that you can look above me, at your talents and realize what you are capable of." he said..his tone conveying the conflicting emotions of love and pain.

"Bas ek baar tum samaj jaao ki career kitna important hai..tumhari capabilities kya hai..yeh fake break-up khatam karke main sab thik kar dunga." he smiled..though deep down he wasn't as sure.

Doneee!! Swayam has reached out to his sister.

So, Rey and Taani are now at opposite ends. Will Rey come to know about her dreams in time?? Will it be a disaster or something else??

Answers in the upcoming chapters! Please do Like and Leave Your Comments. :)