Things had been tough forTaani. She didn’t want to accept the fact but she was alone, all alone even when so many people were around her. She wasn’t a person to hold grudges but now that she thought about it, the way the gang blamed her for being the GS and helping Khushboo ma’am in dance ban, it was wrong. It isn’t her choice to helpKhushboo ma’am, she is the GS and she did this with the intention to help the dance team.
Taani sat by the window in her room and stared at the night sky. What hurt her the most was that evenSwayam and Rey were doubting her intentions.
She isn’t denying the fact that she has made so many mistakes but now she is the GS, she is doing something for herself and even then, people are against her and are getting hurt. Will she ever be able to make anyone happy?
These thoughts haunted her but more than that it was Rey and the anger in his eyes! Why does he never try to understand her? How many times does she have to explain herself and tell him that she is not his enemy?
Taani closed her eyes and a tear slipped from her eye. Suddenly, an image flashed behind her lids, and she opened her eyes wide. It was her and Rey in the rehearsal hall that night. The night when he touched her, for the first time she felt as if Rey was trying to say something but didn’t. His eyes however were very expressive, they always were. But now it doesn’t matter, whatever happened that night doesn’t matter to her anymore.
*
The next morning, it was the day of the match and she had decided not to go. Swayam had already left and she wished that they would win! She prayed to her Krishna Ji and hoped for the best. Hours passed and all she could do was sit and wait anxiously.
She world refresh the college website again and again in hopes of seeing the result but alas! It was taking too long.
She tried again and this time she saw it. Instantly a smile graced her lips and she thanked her Krishna Ji. After all, Rey and her brother Swayam, both won today! As she zoomed in on Rey's face, her smile left.
“Aap khush kyun nahi hain Rey? Aa paise bilkul acche nahi lagte.”
“Toh fir kaise accha lagtahun?”
Taani sat up straight in shock and turned to find Rey standing in her room. She had no time to wonder why he was there. She stood up hurriedly and asked him, "aap yahan?”
“Tum kyun nahi aayi Taani?
Nervous, Taani took a step back but Rey didn’t allow her to keep any distance between them. For months they have been pushing each other away and pulling each other close. Now, this had to end and Rey was determined to confess his feelings. Rey took a step towards Taani as she took one back.
Soon enough there was nowhere Taani could escape from Rey.
“Woh.. meri tabyt thik nahi thi”
“jhut”
“Jhut nahi… sach”
“Aur kab tak aise bhagogi Taani?”
Taani could see the emotion in his eyes but as much as she wanted to reciprocate the feeling, she felt it wasn’t right for her.
“Ab aur nahi bhagungi” she said with determination even though her eyes were teary.
“Life mei pehle kabhimaine aisa feel nahi kiya Taani. Aaj jab itna Khushi ka din tha toh mai khushnahi tha kyunki tum wahan nahi thi”
Taani could only listen to what he was saying unable to stop him from spilling his feelings in front of her.
He gently cups her round face in his hands and says the words that Taani always wanted to hear from him.
“I love you Taani!”
For a second Taani thought that she was in heaven but then she remembered everything that happened between them and it was no longer about Rey. It was about Taani and her self-respect.
Slowly, she raised her hand and kept it on his chest, right above his heart, and pushed him away slightly.
Rey was confused.
“Lekin mai aapse pyaarnahi karti”
Rey was shocked and before he could hold her again, Taani moved away from him and turned her back to him.
“Tum mazaak kar rahi ho naTaani? Only because maine tumhe itna hurt kiya hai, tum mujhse badla le rahi ho?”
Rey looked at Taani’s back to him and got frustrated when she didn’t say anything. He became breathless because he was afraid of losing her. He never thought that Taani would do this to him, even when he knows that she loves him.
He takes a step towards her and turns her around to face him. “Tum mujhse pyar nahi karti?”
Taani looks at Rey for a long before answering in a confident tone. “Nahi karti.”
“Ab isse pehle ki bhaighar aa jaye, aap yahan se chale jaiye.”
Rey gets angry at her expressionless face and holds her arms tightly. “Kyun kar rahi ho tum aisa Taani?”
“Rey chodiye, mujhe dardho rha hai” Taani says, scared of Rey’s sudden anger.
“Aur jo dard mujhe ho rahahai uska kya?”
Taani looks at him unbelievably and scoffs. “Aapka dard?”
“Aur mera kya? Yahi toh baat hai na Rey. Yahan sab kuch aapka hai, mera kuch nahi hai.”
Taani walks away from him as angry tears fall from her eyes, “ Aapke dost, aapki life, aapka dance, aapki fight. Iss sab mei kya kabhi kisine mere baare mei socha? Yahan tak ki bhai bhi mere bhai baad mei aur aapke dost pehle hain. Jab aapki life mei mere liye koi jagah hi nahi hai toh kaisa pyar?”
“Haan maine mistakes kihain, par vo mistakes Gunaah toh nahi thi jo har kadam par mujhe hi sazaa mili hai. Jab kuch galat hota hai sab mujhe blame karte hain, mai ek non-dancer hun toh aapke friends k saath meri koi jagah kaise ho saqti hai. Aap sab ne mujhe doubt kiya aur blame kiya. Aur aap chahte hain ki main itni jldi sab bhul jaun?”
Taani looks away from Rey and folds her arms across her chest. “Nahi rey, main ye sab itni asaani se nahibhul saqti isliye please abhi aap yahan se chale jaiye.”
Rey never knew that Taani felt so much hurt due to his actions and his friends. Even though there was so much he wanted to say, he chose to keep quiet and leave. He couldn’t stop crying and this heartbreak was worse than ever.
*
That's it for the first chapter. I know it's short but I was soo busy. I know there will be errors as well so I will take care of them later.
Let me know how it was!
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Nikitaparas @Nikitaparas
2 years ago
Amazing Loved how taani justified herself