An Unconventional Togetherness

Hello Dear Readers! :) How are all of you doing? Hope the current times are treating all of you well. I am updating this story after a very long time - and hope to be regular with it! I am trying quite a bit to get my personal schedule on track.

A fun fact: I wrote this update when there was power blackout in Mumbai, a t our place specifically for the entire day!

The orange and pinkish hues merged together giving the evening sky a divine aura. The waves of the sea splashed at Taani's feet gently caressing them. Nature never failed to soothe her soul she thought. 

She rubbed her palms along her arms, smiling at the vast expanse of the waters ahead of her while waiting for Rey to arrive.

A number of thoughts ran through her mind. The last few years of her life had been extremely turbulent. After a long time she felt a certain sense of peace. That gave her heart wings of joy. 

So much had happened. All of them had survived different challenges. They had a long way to go, but things were beginning to look up. She smiled at that thought.

Her fingers played with the water. How free flowing it was she wondered. Much like life itself until we do not clog its flow with our own complicated thoughts and emotions!

"Hey" she heard him say as Rey settled down beside her. 

"On time, not bad," she smirked.

"Hahaha. Kya karun shoots ki aadat padh gayi hai," he shrugged. "Tum yaha pehle hi aa gayi thi?" Rey asked her. 

"Hmm..being near the ocean, I really love it. So I thought I'll spend some time when I have the chance," she smiled. 

Rey smiled at that reply. A lot of things had changed. But two facts hadn't : Taani's love for the ocean and the sense of peace he magically felt in her company.

He wrapped his arms around his knees, hugging them to his chest. 

"Still love the waters so much eh?"

"When every thing changes, we do need some constant don't we?" she replied. 

He remained silent. What was his constant? Was it dance? Or something deeper? 

"Rey?" Taani's voice jolted him out of his reverie. 

"Hmm?" 

"Ek baat puchu?" She sounded hesitant.

"Haan kaho na" he said in an assuring tone.

"Aapne Kria ko sab kuch diya..Aap unke liye US bhi chale gaye. Phir bhi.." She left the sentence hanging. 

A sad smile formed on his lips. What could he say to this?

"Jab koi relationship tut tha hai galti dono ki hoti hai Taani. I think we understand this.." He started. 

She looked down, staring at the sand slipping away with the water from beneath her feet.

"I and Kria, we were never meant to be. Else I don't think I would have loved anyone else after she left for the very first time. Uske baad joh hua, it was just a vain attempt of giving life to an already dead relationship. Over time it got toxic," he sighed.

"You know the key difference Taani..it was dance that bound us. That passion for dance. Not love itself. Not that love which survives and grows no matter what. And when the foundation itself is not strong, then conflicts eventually mount. Looking back, maybe I was just looking for something I had lost in the wrong person altogether," he finished, his tone going softer with the last sentence as he looked at her.

There was a glint in his eyes that she couldn't place. A sense of sadness masked by internal conflict. 

She stared right back at him, as if trying to communicate that she understood. He smiled a little and looked away at the changing greyish hues of the evening sky. It looked like it was going to rain.

"We'll be alright Rey," She whispered.

"We will be. As long as we are together," he said turning back to her. There was a ring of conviction to his voice, that touched her heart. 

Their togetherness wasn't conventional, but it was beautiful.

"You know what? This is my constant," he was smiling widely as if thinking to himself. 

"What?" She was confused.

"This strength that you always give me. Tumne mujhe sikhaya tha what it means to be selfless, what it means to be strong from within. Every time unconsciously, whether I was dancing or looking at the stars, that strength would just come back. And I had to go live another day even when all the odds were stacked against me," he spoke as if going back in time.

Taani felt an unsaid emotion clogging her chest. Everything had changed expect for two facts : Rey's love for dance and the stars and the way she loved him. Now with zero expectations. 

A slight drizzle which had begun earlier now turned into heavier rains. Rey and Taani quickly found shelter under a tapri. The sky had turned a dark grey. 

"Bhaiya do chai dena," Rey said while Taani was enjoying the raindrops falling on her palms.

Rey smiled watching her soaking in the simple joy of rains. She had always been like that. Simple and pure hearted he thought to himself. 

That smile quickly turned into a smirk when he let a few of those drops fall into his palms and he splashed them on her, taking her by surprise.

"Rey!" She shrieked. 

He broke into fits of laughter while she wiped her face and arms irritated. By then their teas were ready. 

"What are you wiping? You're anyways wet," Rey giggled handing over a cup of tea to her. 

She frowned taking a sip from the piping hot tea. "Mmmmm. Nothing like chai and baarish!" She declared.

Rey smiled at that, silently sipping from his own cup. Standing there, beside each other while the rains fell around them - they did not feel the need to speak anything. They found their joy in the silent assurance of each other's presence. It was magical and peaceful.

Rey's phone rang to break into their serenity. He frowned. 

"Yes Dad?" he answered. 

"Rey kaha ho tum? Swayam ne abhi call karke bola ki Taani apna phone hi  utha rahi. Its getting late and its pouring. Usey ghar chod do, Swayam bhi pareshaan hai." his dad scolded him.

Rey cursed himself for not remembering about the time. 

"Haan dad. Don't worry. I'll do that," he said before cutting the call.

He turned to see Taani looking at him curiously. 

"Tumhara phone check karo," he said.

"Kyu?" came the reply. 

"Arey karo na" he insisted, irritated at being lost in the moment and not thinking about her safety.

Clueless, she checked her phone only to find a number of missed calls from her brother. She smacked her forehead. 

"Arey maine phone silent pe daala tha." She murmured while dialling her brother.

Rey rolled his eyes. "Yeh log phone kyu rakhte hai agar silent pe daalna ho toh." He mumbled. 

"Hello Bhai?" Taani spoke nervously.

"Yaar Taani kaha ho tum? Baarish dekhi hai kitni ho rahi hai? Upar se phone bhi utha nahi rahi ho." Swayam scolded her. 

"Bhai, chill. Main Rey ke saath hi hun. Phone silent pe tha. I'll come home, don't worry," Taani replied calmly.

Something about the way she spoke those words touched his heart. Like she felt safe in his company. 

"Okay par jaldi aao," Swayam cut the call, still not happy.

Taani knew she would have to face her worried brother at home. She sighed, shaking her head. But she did not show any signs to moving from her spot. 

"Oh madam?" Rey called out.

"Haan?" she pretended to not know what he was about to say. 

"Ghar nahi jaana kya??"

"Rey yaha acha lag raha hai," she whined.

"Arey yaar mujhe tumhare bhai aur mere papa se daant nahi khaani. Chalo chup chap," Rey said pissed off. 

Taani giggled. "Kitna darte ho aap." 

"Haan darta hun. For you. Its not safe here. Chalo," He held her hands and pulled her.

His words and demeanour touched her heart. She allowed herself to be pulled by him, just like years ago she had allowed her heart to become one with his. 

And we begin quite a beautiful journey of TaaRey here on. Do Read, Like and Let me know in the comments how you find the 2nd Chapter.