Chapter 5

The SAINT MANITO restaurant was nothing as he expected. He usually taught of people grooving their hips to a loud music under the bold lights and business deals done right in d middle of the chaos.
But no! He was surprised by d explicit eloquence of the deals carried. Before he got carried away in the luxurious ambience, at the corner area, he spot Taani sitting with a bunch of people, her face sublimed under the bright yellow lights. She looked serious. Conversations avenged. But the guy sedated beside her whispered something in her ear. She immediately relaxed. She smirked and continued the talk with calm demeanor. After a long 30 minutes, the scattered group slowly evacuated leaving behind the only two people. i.e, Taani and the other guy probably the boss.... His clean shaved face, looked so handsome and professional, looked exactly like a gentleman.

Since it was already late night, Taani was quite frantic to go back to Aryan.

"Well, we have successfully made them to sign the deal, sir. Hope the show will be great" she rummaged through a file one last time and submitted it to Harshad.

"Right...." Harshad was proud. He looked at the clock and it was 11.30pm already. He was about to tell her that he would drop her home, where as Rey interrupted "Hey, love"

Taani was appalled. Least, she didn't expect him to follow her.

"Excuse me" Harshad looked perplexed swinging his head from Rey to Taani and vice versa.

"Myeslf Reyaansh Singhania,. Taani's....*pause looking at her gritted teeth* Wahi's best friend." Rey introduced himself. "See, the thing is I followed Taani so that I can take back her home if it gets too late. I know that, u would have arranged a vehicle for her departure in d same way as u sent to pick her up. But still I felt like coming all d way to pick her up" Rey gave a goofy smile.

"Ok... But I taught of dropping her... Anyways....u guys carry on" Harshad twitched his eyebrows. "C u Taani..." He paced out.

"Shall we go, love" Rey smeared a confident look. "How dare u!" Taani stomped her foot. "Love" He raised an eyebrow. "First, stop calling me that shit. And second, how dare u followed me....Lastly, heck....i'm so not coming with u" She cried on top of her voice making people in the restaurant look at her.

"See Love, it's very late night n u have no option" Rey smirked. He was right. She didn't have any option unless she troubled Wahi. She was clearly frustrated. She didn't want to give him any wrong idea. Ignoring his smirk, she gave up "Ok".

******

After the dinner, everyone gathered around the living hall settling themselves on to the cozy sofas. "So? Wahi Shaadi ka kuch socha hai kya?" Shantanu leaned back giving him a scrutinizing look. Sneha erected cautiously who sat beside Wahi. He stumbled to form an answer for a second. Vrush ogled him through the corner of her eye. He noticed. "Hum toh puch puchkar tak gaye hai" Raavi sighed in defiance. Sensing the seriousness in the air Rajeev muttered "Abhi let them enjoy the courtship period." He chuckled further saying "Shaadi honeke baad waise bi sab generalized ho jaye ga" "Hahaha....shayad" Shantanu snickered at Wahi's dumbfounded face. Sneha knew Wahi wasn't yet ready for marriage. She understood. Even she had specific goals to be fulfilled before she tied knot. She never presumed his disinterest regarding marriage on her. But somewhere she wished he spoke what he's assuming of their future, since she had lot of dreams when it came to her marital life. On the other hand, Wahi couldn't decipher an answer. He was stricken. It's not that he was afraid of marriage. He literally felt guilty that he couldn't bring up to propose Sneha. It's just that some past wounds had scarred him too deeply and here he thought he was ready unless he saw Vrush again. He know somewhere down the deep, he still held those feelings for her which is absolutely wrong. Vrush has moved on, so as he. Also, Sneha loved him with all her heart. But here he was betraying her feelings. Before the situation proceeded awkwardly for Wahi and Sneha, "Mama...." A yawning voice dived through stairs.

******

They were already on d road halfway to Berey. Neither Rey nor Tani spoke throughout. Rey kept quite as he realized she wasn't really comfortable hitting a conversation with him. She had immediately dozed off in a car leaving him to brood over. He honked the car to halt as they reached Wahi residence. He looked over her. Her eyes shut peacefully. Her curls grazed her jaw line. Her lips convulsed evenly. As foolish as it sounded his dopamine kicked off. He leaned to her slightly and brushed her wavy hair a little. She was awake. Still in the slumber, her dark brown eyes squinted into his almond dark eyes, which made her mouth water as it made her remember the color of coffee. For an instance, both didn't move. Hormones rose to pump again. They could listen to each other's breathing. Suddenly as everything processed by Taani's brain, she sat upright. Following the stance Rey fumbled back letting her some space. "I was about to woke u up" He looked front through the glass avoiding to look at her. She turned to him. He was quiet serious. There was no humor in his words as he didn't call her LOVE. "Thanks for d ride." She mumbled. "U r always welcome, love" He simpered. Just a second back, she thought him behaving well only to be ruined now. "U r impossible" saying so she got down d car.

******

"Aryan" Raavi immediately scooped the descending figure into her arms and kissed his cheek. "Ut gaya sahib" Wahi trotted pulling him from his mother's embrace. "Isko iska mama ke bina neend kaha se aata hai" Sneha commented with a big grin on her face. Shan n Vrush watched them and was quiet confused as they didn't knew who the kid was.

"Rinni...Aryan ko hot chocolate milk... lekar aao.. w out gaya hai" Raavi bellowed hoping she could listen her voice. "Ye..." Vrush got up and was about to ask about the kid. "Mama..." Aryan beamed skidding and barging towards Taani who just entered the house.

Taani scooped him up nudging his nose tip with her slender fingers. He locked his tiny arms across her neck and buried his small face in d crook of her neck "where were you mama?"

Shaan and Vrush who now stood together exchanged a surprising glance as they thought Tani wasn't married. Here Rey who had entered the hall behind Taani stood in total silence. He was taken aback. It was the least thing he expected over everything. She being married and having a child.