I Can't Stop Thinking about You Completed G

Part 2- You have Bewitched me

You have Bewitched me

Rey entered his empty apartment and sighed. At times, it felt haunting. Everyone in his friends' circle was either married, engaged, or at least in a relationship, and Rey knew after two messed-up relationships, he shouldn't be hoping for it, but he needed a partner too. He was happy for his friends. Their kind, yet misplaced attempts to find him a girlfriend always filled his heart with warmth. But he knew that he would never find the right woman because his perfect partner(s) had moved on with their lives, one as a successful Bollywood choreographer and the other as a successful businesswoman. Or perhaps, it was that he was only attracted to independent, successful women who didn't need a partner.

Rey had moved on from Kriya faster than he had thought it was appropriate, and he did not dwell on it much, but he would always think of his relationship with Taani and pinpoint every single thing he had done wrong. He would always wonder what it would be like, having her by his side as their Dance company expanded and as he started making a name for himself as a businessman. The whole team had split, each finding their own path, and now the company only belonged to him, Swayam and Sharon. Swayam usually never handled the business side of things and left it to him and Sharon. Even now, each time they won an award or set up a new dance institute at a new location, Rey would hope for a message or a call from Taani, and a part of him hated seeking validation from his ex. He knew it wasn't healthy, but he also knew that she was his driving force. She was the one who had always encouraged him to be a better version of himself, even in her absence.

But Taani never called, and Swayam never spoke of her. She was like a forgotten dream for everyone else except him.

The next day, as he drove to work, Swayam called.

"Rey, I forgot the Rathore deal file at home. I'm so sorry, but I think we'll have to push the meeting by an hour because I have to go back and grab it. Plus, the traffic is bad too."

"Don't worry about it. I'll pick it on my way," Rey replied.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course!"

"Thanks a lot." They rang off. That's when Rey realized what he had committed to. He would see Taani again if he had to make a stop at Swayam's place.

He rang the doorbell, a part of him wanting to run away. Taani opened the door in a few minutes, and Rey looked at her in confusion. She was dressed in a green sweatshirt and black jogging pants and was wearing a cap.

"I needed to grab a file," he said, controlling his amusement. Taani stepped aside, and he went to Swayam's room. When he returned with the file, Taani was grumbling to herself.

"Are you ok?"

"Yes, Rey, I am great! I was on a video call, attending my friend's bachelorette, and now my network is disconnected. I am f*cking ecstatic!" she said sarcastically.

"Was the theme jogging? Also, it's 9 AM!" Rey replied in an equally sarcastic tone.

"No, the theme was F.R.I.E.N.D.S. She is a huge fan of the show. She is in Manhattan, so it's night for her right now. I cannot believe my network just crashed again! This city sucks!"

"Hey, come on, there should be something that you like about this city!"

"Well, let's see..." She pretended to think and then shook her head.

"Nope, this city is my hellhole."

Rey couldn't help but feel guilty. "Sorry,"

Taani's eyes softened.

"Hey, I am joking. Don't worry about it. I am just too pissed and bored out of my mind. I have completed my work here, and I can't get a flight to go back because of Corona, and now this... I'm just having a bad day,"

Rey opened his mouth to speak, but his phone beeped just then. It was Swayam asking him if he got the file.

"I got to go. We have a meeting in an hour."

Taani's face fell. She said goodbye and followed him to the door.

As the meeting progressed, Rey kept thinking about Taani. When the meeting ended, he packed up his things, and got into his car, determinedly steering it, knowing he was going to regret his decision. But he still went ahead with it and rang her doorbell for the second time today.

"Tell me one place you like hanging out in Mumbai," he said to Taani, still leaning on the doorframe. She looked at him in confusion.

"The college terrace?"

He blinked at her.

"That is out of bounds. We can't waltz to the college terrace almost five years after graduation."

"Then, Chowpatty," she said, after thinking for a few seconds.

"Fine, if you aren't doing anything right now, we are going to Chowpatty!"

"I... what?!" She looked shocked.

"Look, you said you are bored. Maybe if you stepped out for a bit, you'll feel better? I'm offering to take you," he replied, excited yet nervous.

"So your idea is to take me to the beach at noon?"

"Yes! I know it's stupid, but let's do stupid! Come on!"

Taani sighed and looked down.

"Fine, it's not like I am solving world hunger sitting cooped up in the house. Gimme 15 minutes, I'll change and come."

An awkward silence filled the drive to Chowpatty. They tried to make small talk, but that didn't work. Rey was regretting his impulse when Taani spoke.

"What is the craziest thing you have done?"

"Ummm, you go first," he said, not able to think of anything and also wanting to know for sure what qualified as "crazy" for her.

"So, I got drunk with my friends when I was doing my MBA. We sneaked into the college. I climbed the building's highest point and started yelling my guts out. The watchman almost caught us."

He looked at her in shock. He knew she had always been a bit impulsive, but this was something the Taani he knew would never do.

"Now your turn."

He thought for a few seconds and then chuckled.

"I..almost got married to Kriya."

"Almost?" Rey couldn't help but notice the jealousy lacing Taani's voice. He explained to her how they had ended up in the village and also whatever had happened there.

"Now I understand why Bhai hates the village."

"It was a nightmare!"

"Was the idea of getting married a nightmare, or was it getting married to Kriya?" She smirked at him, and he rolled his eyes.

"I mean, maybe we would have thought about marriage eventually, but not like that! That was just crazy!"

"You think?"

They looked at each other and burst out laughing.

The two then recounted some of the other absurd things they did in college and later. When Taani mentioned her ex, Abhimanyu, and how her grandmother had almost caught them making out, Rey couldn't help but feel jealous.

"I am so glad we are doing this. I hate to admit it, but being in the house all week did a number on me," Taani said, and she smiled softly.

"I'm glad you're enjoying this!"

"On second thoughts, though, we shouldn't go to Chowpatty. Let's head back home. I need to get some stuff done," she said. Rey could tell that she didn't want to go back, but decided not to push her and found the next turn. They drove back to Taani's house.

"So when are you going back home?" he asked as he pulled the handbrake outside Taani's house.

"Day after tomorrow."

He looked at her in shock. It felt as if a part of him had died. He had just found her again, and he knew at that moment that he couldn't afford to lose her again. The promise he made to Swayam last night felt irrelevant.

"I thought you said there were no flight tickets?"

"No, but I am going by train. I booked the tickets soon after you left for office."

"Oh!" was all he could say. He looked at Taani, and before he could realize it, blurted out his mind.

"I know I am going to f*ck shit up, but after meeting you again, I realized that I need to have someone in my life. It's high time I started seeing someone. And by someone, I mean you. I never moved on from you, and I know you don't love me any more or want a relationship with me. I just wanted you to know I like you, but it's my problem. I'll deal with it."

Taani gaped at him in shock. His eyes went wide as he realized what he had just done, and he felt embarrassed. He hit his head on the steering wheel, causing the horn to go off.

"Do I get to decide whether I want a relationship or not?" she asked after a few seconds.

"Yeah?" As he looked at her stoic expression, he realized that he was committing the same mistake they made years ago, making decisions for the other person.

"Rey, why do you think I went out with you when I have tons of packing to do?"

"You were...bored?" he replied sheepishly. She threw a glare at him.

"I like you too. I just thought that it wouldn't be healthy to ask you out without knowing how you felt, and that's why I was being so aloof with you. It's not like I don't want to be in a relationship, just because of our messed up past or because I'm divorced. You and I have an emotional connection, and I want us to get back together again. I love you, too. I think I never stopped loving you." Taani put her hand on Rey's hand. He looked at her and smiled.

"I am sorry for being stupid."

"Oh, you should be!" She rolled her eyes, good-naturedly. He smiled sheepishly and his gaze fell to her lips. He leaned in and looked at her, seeking permission. She leaned in and kissed him. It was just like the old days, soft and sweet. She broke the kiss.

"Do you want to go on a date with me?" he asked, his breathing heavy.

"I thought you'd never ask!" She blushed and then kissed his cheek, getting out of the car.

The next morning, Swayam stood gaping at Rey, who stepped out of Taani's room and then at Taani who followed him out and casually walked to the kitchen as if nothing had happened.

"Should I be worried you'll mess this up again or happy that you guys are finally dating?"

"Or, you could get angry that we slept together last night," Taani said nonchalantly while pouring milk in her coffee mug.

"Taani?!"

"You did what?"

Swayam blubbered all the way to the kitchen, trying to get some coherent words out, while Taani and Rey simply grinned at each other, happy in their newfound bliss.