An Imminent Collision

“I guess no matter how hard you try, you can’t escape your past.” ~ Joel Osteen

“Hey Nilesh, you got us a hotel to stay for the Dance World events and competition in Delhi right? I can’t find the confirmation stuff to put in the file for tomorrow.” Rey asked as he headed into one of the rehearsal halls, where Nilesh and Karma were marking a new routine to teach the junior batches later that day. 

“Oh, shit!” Nilesh said, his facial expression dropping to a look of horror. 

“You cannot be serious!” Rey yelled, “You forgot to get us a place to stay? It’s a month-long event and it starts in two days!” He ran his hands through his hair in frustration, “ I get that you don’t like the administrative work, but it has to get done, and that’s we all split it up! Now we leave tomorrow and we don’t have anywhere to stay! What are we supposed to do?” 

Hearing the yelling, Swayam, Ishika and Vicky came running into the rehearsal hall as well. Hearing the tail-end of the conversation, comprehension dawned on Swayam’s face. “Rey!” He said forcefully, effectively ending Rey’s tirade. “What’s done is done, now we just need a solution. And I think I may have one. My family has a house in Delhi that we can use.” 

At the same time in Delhi, Abhi had just pulled up outside Taani’s house. Even before he could lock his car, the front door was pulled open, his girlfriend standing there with a smile on her face. “Someone’s excited for this trip!” He laughed, dashing up the front steps to wrap his arms around her. He laughed harder when she shoved him back and smacked his arm. 

“Don’t you start teasing too, Aakriti is bad enough!” Taani grumbled, although she gave up faking anger almost immediately in favor of hugging Abhi. She loved Abhi’s hugs, his strong tall frame hiding her from the world with ease. It just felt immeasurably safe.

“Alright, alright, I won’t tease you! But I am starving, so let’s eat some breakfast, and then we really should get on the road.” Abhi said, once they’d finally pulled apart and headed inside. 

“Okay, shall we take my car or yours?” Taani asked, as they headed over to the table where she’d already laid out breakfast. 

“I think let’s take mine, it’s bigger so it’ll be easier to fit the camping gear and the food cooler.” Abhi replied, before tucking into the delicious spread of cinnamon french toast and fresh fruit, gesturing for Taani to do the same. 

**********

Pulling up at the camping area a few hours later, Abhi looked over to the passenger seat, where Taani had curled up like a small child and fallen asleep within 15 minutes of leaving her house. This was one of her quirks, which sometimes annoyed him if he got bored during long drives, but she always looked so cute sleeping that he hated waking her. “Taani,” he said softly as he brushed his hand on her arm, “Taani wake up, we’re here.”

“Mmmm… we’re here? I slept the whole way?” Taani asked groggily as she woke up and looked around. 

Abhi laughed softly at her sleep ruffled, confused expression. “Yeah you did, and you were honestly in such a deep sleep I didn’t want to wake you, but you wanted to go for a hike today and we still have to set up the tent first.” 

“Okay yeah, let me just splash some water on my face and we’ll figure out the tent and lunch before we go for a hike?” Taani asked, finally stretching as they both got out of the car. 

“That sounds perfect!”

“I still can’t believe Nil could be this careless…” Rey fumed as he packed his things for the trip to Delhi. From where he sat on Rey’s living room couch, Swayam sighed, making Rey turn to face him. “What?” He snapped in annoyance. 

“It was a mistake Rey. Yes it was a stupid, immature thing to do, but it’s fine now. This is why me, you and Sharon handle stuff like entrance formalities. It’s not a perfect system, but we’re lucky enough to be working with our friends, our business is based on our passion, and we’re doing well for ourselves.” Swayam explained calmly. Rey huffed out a breath, sitting opposite Swayam and putting his head in his hands. Swayam waited patiently, knowing that he shouldn’t push Rey in this mood.

“I feel old,” Rey said after a few moments, lifting his head, “I always assumed that if I did what I loved, it wouldn’t feel like work. Like, you’ve met my dad, there’s all the work he does in his company, the philanthropy stuff he does on my mom’s name, and he never really seems tired or stressed. I assumed it would be like that for me, but instead…” he trailed off despondently, slumping back against the couch. Swayam looked upon his friend in concern. 

“You know my dad says that he could never have really established himself without my mom? Maybe you need to find yourself someone who you can share your life with that way?” Swayam suggested. Rey laughed, and Swayam looked at him with confusion.

“You and Sharon say you don’t agree on things, you don’t think the same, but you both actually say the same things. She literally said to me at the party I need to find someone and do something other than work nonstop. I just find it funny I guess.” Rey explained once he stopped laughing. 

“Wow, I’m trying to solve your problem and you’ve basically summed up mine.” Swayam responded, causing Rey to look at him questioningly. “I said you should find someone to share your life with, and Sharon suggested you get into a relationship so you aren’t working all the time. The difference is basically our issue, we both want different things out of our relationship.” He explained. 

The two friends were quiet for a moment as they each processed this revelation. “Do you still love her?” Rey asked eventually, concern clear on his face.

“I don’t think I’ll ever stop, it’s like something in my bones. As though I was born with the default setting to love Sharon Raiprakash. I just don’t have as much faith as I used to, that love will be enough.” Swayam replied morosely.

Taani sighed contentedly as she watched Abhimanyu start grilling the vegetable kebabs for dinner. She’d offered to help him, but he’d insisted that she cooked for him too often. As much as she was an independent woman, there was something incredibly warm and safe about being with someone who truly wanted to take care of her. And it really was the little things, like making sure she had her balance while hiking, or bringing cinnamon and brown sugar to grill with pineapples because it was her favorite. 

“Why are you watching me like that?” Abhi asked when he caught sight of the look on Taani’s face. 

“Just wondering what I did to get so lucky.” Taani responded, smiling widely.

“I thought we agreed I was the lucky one!” Abhi joked, before coming over to lean down and steal a kiss.

**********

Abhimanyu was starving! And he’d had a late class, so by the time he’d gotten out, the college canteen was mostly out of proper food. As a result, he was in a foul mood, which was probably clear on his face, considering the way people were getting out of his way.

“Hey! Abhi, wait up!” A voice called from behind. He was so focused on getting off campus and picking up food that he almost didn’t bother stopping, except he realized it was Taani’s voice.

“Taani I’m in a bit of a rush, do you mind talking later?” He said shortly when Taani finally caught up to him. 

“I know… I saw you rush out of here last week too, I know you’re hungry.” Taani responded, causing him to look at her in surprise.

“Wait, what?” Abhimanyu asked, startled at the insight of this girl he’d literally only met a month ago. 

“Yeah, and I brought extra food, so come on!” Taani replied, before taking his hand and leading him off to the cafeteria. Once they reached their destination, she pulled two containers of food from her ever-present bag, microwaved them and then sat him down at a table. 

“You didn’t have to do this you know…” Abhi said sheepishly after he’d practically inhaled half the container and could actually think beyond hunger. 

“I didn’t, but you get this really frightening look on your face when you’re hungry, and I can’t help but imagine your head literally popping off your shoulders with steam coming out of your ears. Like in one of those old cartoons?” Taani replied, laughing when she saw the look on Abhi’s face. Hearing her laugh, Abhi couldn’t help but laugh too, and the two dissolved into a fit of giggles.

“I guess I’m lucky that I met you, since you kept me from blowing my top.” Abhi said, once he’d finally stopped laughing. A charged look passed between the two of them, and he swallowed thickly.

“I guess you are…” Taani responded quietly, before returning her attention to the food as Abhi did the same.

 **********

Pulling back for air, Taani smiled up at her boyfriend, “I guess we’re both lucky that we can share moments like this.” 

“I can agree to that!” Abhimanyu sighed, before they finally separated and started to eat. 

The sound of the door opening the next morning jolted Aakriti from her peaceful sleep. “Taani can’t be back so soon unless something’s wrong!” She realized, before sprinting out of her room, barely taking the time to grab a coverup off the hook on her door. 

“Woah!” She exclaimed as she came upon a group of people she didn’t recognize in the living room. “Who the hell are you people?”

“Someone else is here? Did you know about this?” One of the girls in the group turned to ask another. 

“HEY! I don’t know any of you people, and I live here so let’s answer my questions…” She trailed off as she caught sight of another person entering the front door. “Oh my god! You’re Taani’s brother!” She realized aloud.