Part 6

Part Six

Two weeks had passed working in the office. Rey, Taani, Sharon, Swayam, Nil and Simmi had become the best of friends. Sparks between Rey and Taani were not unnoticed by all, but when they tried to talk about it, either Rey or Taani would change the topic. It was high time that this topic should be talked about before it got too late. Taking situation in hand Sharon decided to talk to Taani.

"Taani, yahan akeli kyu baithi ho?" asked Sharon when she spotted her sitting alone in the living room staring blanking at the television.

"Neend nahi aa rahi thi..Simmi kahan hai?" she asked turning off the television.

"Vo so gayi. Taani.." Sharon hesitated a bit before talking.

"Kya hua Sharon?" Taani got worried hearing her tone.

"Taani, tumhe pata hai na ki tum mujhse jo chahe share kar sakti ho.." Sharon decided to not start directly.

"Haan Shar, baat kya hai?" Taani was still confused by her behavior.

"Yaad hai Taani, college mein jab mujhe ek ladke pe crush tha toh meine sabse pehle yeh baat tumhe batayi thi, not even to Simmi." She laughed a little remembering those days.

"Haan aur phir tum upset ho gayi thi jab tumhe pata chala tha ki he already had a girlfriend. Tumhara mood theek karne ke liye mujhe apni pocket poori khali karni padi thi." She too started laughing thinking about that incident.

"Yeah that treat was fun. But do you know ki meine tumse vo baat share kyu ki thi?" She asked again going into serious mode.

"Kyu ki thi?" Taani asked.

"Because I trusted you and still do. But do you trust me?" Sharon asked finally coming to the point.

"Tum aise kyu pooch rahi ho?"

"Kyunki agar tum karti toh mujhe Rey ke bare mein sab bata deti." Sharon spoke out surprising Taani.

"Rey ke bare mein..?" Taani asked softly breaking eye contact.

"Tumhe kya laga ki mujhe pata nahi chalega? Roz after work tum ussi ke saath hoti ho. Break mein hum saath toh baithte hai but you two are totally busy amongst yourself. Vo saamne aate hi you forget us completely, as if we don't exist. Every alternate day uske ghar jati ho. Aur aaj toh date pe bhi gayi thi uske saath?" Her voice had a tinge of sarcasm.

"Aisi baat nahi hai. It's just that he is a very good friend, so time spend karti hoon mein uske saath. Aur aaj hum koi date pe nahi gaye the, we were just completing work. Tum jo soch rahi ho vaisa kuch nahi hai." Taani replied guiltily. She had no idea that her spending time with him was affecting her sister.

"Good friend? Really now? Swayam bhi mera kaafi atcha dost ban gaya hai, but I don't behave the way you do! I don't go to "coffee shops" to work!" she air-quoted. Sharon was angry on Taani for not opening up.

"Shar I'm sorry, unintentionally meine tumhe ignore kiya. I didn't mean to ever hurt you." Taani's eyes had turned moist.

"Don't change the topic Taani, mein Rey ke bare mein pooch rahi hoon! Will you mind telling me?" Taani shivered in fear seeing Sharon glare.

Taani remained silent not sure of what she would blurt out.

"Okay fine, mat batao!" Sharon got up to leave but stopped when she heard Taani weeping.

"Shar I'm sorry but I'm seriously confused.." She wept more.

"Hey.. hey.. stop crying first of all" Sharon hugged her wiping her tears away. Taani got quiet after sometime. She continued, "You want to share?"

"I don't know Shar.. he is really nice and I like spending time with him. Everyday uske bare mein kuch nayi baat pata chalti hai which completely changes my opinion about him. Pehle mein sochti thi ki he is some rich brat but later I found out ki he is a loving son. He respects not only his parents but everyone. He is kind of ideal. Phir jab vo Rohan incident hua, he blamed himself ki uske wajah se his cousin misbehaved with us, which wasn't true. Vo toh bas uske bhai ka pyaar tha. Then office mein bhi, even though he is the CEO's son he is so humble with all the staff. Mujhe usse mile sirf do hafte hue hai but I feel like I know him from a long time.." There was a smile on Taani's face as she said all this.

"Do you like him?" Sharon asked smiling back at her.

"No." Taani's reply did wash off the smile on her face.

"Huh? Rey pe itna bada essay likhne ke baad you say you don't like him? You really want me to believe that?" Sharon was really pissed off on her stupid sister.

"Tumhe aisa kyu lagta hai ki I..like.. him..?" Taani asked unsure.

"Isn't it obvious? Tum humesha ussi ke baare mein sochti rehti ho. When he is around you, you just can't take your eyes of him. Leaving all these superficial things aside, you two have grown on each other so fast that it's hard to believe that you two don't have feelings for each other." Sharon kept her point.

"No, it isn't like that.. I mean we don't have any kind of feelings.. I mean no.. you're just over thinking" Taani tried to stop her.

"Taani" Sharon said sternly, "kya baat hai batao. Please."

"I think I.. I mean.. I'm not sure..but I guess.." Taani stammered.

"Tell me already" Sharon was getting frustrated.

"I like Rey." Taani confessed.

"Finally!" Sharon exclaimed.

"But I don't think he likes me back." Taani spoke out her fear.

"Tum pagal ho? Why am I even asking? Tum ho hi pagal!" Sharon shouted.

"Sharon chilla mat, Simmi uth jayegi.." Taani warned her.

"You know what, forget it. Tumse baat karna will make me mad. Good night!" Sharon went in her room to sleep.

Taani stared at the closed door for some time wondering what happened to Sharon. One minute she was all excited and next she just stormed out. And that to because of what she said to her.

"Shar ko kya hua? I mean meine galath kya kaha? Yes, I like him, it's high time I accept it. But it's also true that he doesn't like me. I mean why will he? Plus, I don't want to come across as some bitch to him. I mean usse agar meine kaha aur usse laga ki I'm just saying it. What if he thinks that I'm using him to get into the company, which was what his brother had told him. But Rey aisa nahi hai, he understands me. I know he doesn't think low of me. But what if his brother.. no Rey won't listen to him. Will that mean that I'm coming between their relation and spoiling it more? Yeh sab kisse batau aur kaun samjhega meri baat ko?"

Next day in the office Sharon overheard Swayam talk something related to Taani with Nil. She turned curious and stood hiding to listen more.

"Kya lagta hai tujhe, uska koi boyfriend hoga?" Swayam asked Nil.

"I don't think so.." Nil stated.

"Taani se baat karle na" Swayam suggested.

"Pagal hai kya? Mein usse poochu ki boyfriend hai ya nahi?" Nil mocked at Swayam.

"Haan. Please apne bhai ke liye..pleeeaaase.." Swayam pleaded.

"Dekhta hoon" Nil agreed.

"Swayam Taani ke bare mein kyun pooch raha tha? Does he like Taani? But Taani likes Rey, ab mein kya karun? And why did Swayam have to like Taani?" Sharon felt bad thinking about the possibilities of Swayam liking Taani. Ignoring her feelings, she went in search of Rey.

Sharon spotted Rey sitting at his workplace alone. Grabbing the opportunity, she went to talk to him.

"Rey tum free ho?" she asked.

"Haan. Kya hua?" Rey kept his phone aside and turned to Sharon to talk.

"Okay..listen mujhe ghuma fira ke koi baat nahi karni..but it is really necessary for me to know certain things" She sat in front of him.

"Poocho.." Rey asked her to continue.

"Kya Swayam ke life mein koi ladki hai?" She wanted to ask if Swayam liked Taani, but decided not to.

"Hain? Why are you ask...ing.." Rey paused mid-sentence and continued with a smirk, "Check kar rahi ho ki vo single hai ya nahi?"

"Oh please!" Sharon rolled her eyes.

"Arre..he is really nice. I know mujhse thoda kam handsome hai, but you know, you can ignore that fact" Rey chuckled.

"Oh shut up. Mein toh bus isiliye pooch rahi thi kyunki abhi meine Swayam aur Nil ko baat karte suna. And I think he likes Taani." Sharon spoke out angrily hearing his nonsense.

"What!" Rey exclaimed, all mischief draining down his face.

"Yeah!" Sharon said looking at him confusingly.

"Tum mujhe kyu bata rahi ho yeh sab?" Rey asked trying to maintain his calm voice.

"I don't know..mujhe usse direct approach karna iss baat ko lekar thoda awkward laga. Listen I gotta go, Simmi ka call aa raha hai."

"Kya Swayam sachme Taani ko like karta hai? Phir vo mujhe kyu pooch raha tha if I like her or not? Swayam se baat karta hoon." Rey thought.

"Kya baat hai Rey? Taani ke khayalon mein doobe ho kya?" Swayam entered and saw Rey engrossed in deep thoughts.

"No dude. Why will I think of her?" Rey backed off.

"Atcha.. toh kya soch rahe the tum?" Swayam enquired.

"Humari scholarship. Yahan internship poori karne se pehle hi hume jana hoga.." Rey effectively diverted the topic.

"Haan yaar.. but I'll really miss this place.." Swayam had a faraway look on his face.

"Only place or people as well?" Rey asked hoping to learn the truth.

"Yeh bhi koi puchne wali baat hai" Nil joined them, "Swayam will surely miss someone a lot. Haina Swayam?"

"Shut up Nil. Rey ignore him." Swayam hushed Nil.

"Kya mein Swayam se poochu?" Rey soloquized.

"Earth calling Rey. Earth calling Rey." Swayam said and burst out laughing.

"Shut up dude" Rey smacked the two and started his work.

He couldn't get any opportunity to talk to Swayam and later when he finally found one he was called by his dad. Deciding he would talk to Swayam later, he continued his work. After work when Taani came to him asking him for coffee, he denied her giving some random excuse. Taani felt sad but she knew this was coming. She knew she had misinterpreted his friendship.

"Taani all good?" Swayam asked seeing her frown.

"Yeah" Quickly plastering a smile, she left.

"Isse kya hua?" Swayam wondered.

"Rey ne coffee ke liye mana kiya" Nil informed.

"What is going on in his head?" Swayam shook his head and they too left.

At home, Sharon saw Taani sulking. She tried approaching her but, Taani didn't budge. She finally called up Rey.

"Yes Sharon?" Rey asked.

"Tumhari Taani ke saath koi ladai hui hai?" she asked.

"Nai kyu?"

"Jabse office se wapas aayi hai, she is sulking over something" she informed him.

"Atcha? Usko poocho na ki baat kya hai?"

"I tried."

"Sharon kisse baat kar rahi ho?" Rey heard Taani over the phone.

"Stupid credit card wale!" She ended the call.

"Credit card? Why did she lie?" Rey wondered.

"Atcha Sharon suno, mein aunty se milne ja rahi hoon. I'll come home late." Taani informed Sharon.

"Thank god Taani ne suna nahi ki mein Rey se baat kar rahi thi. As it is she has warned me not to talk to Rey with regard to her feelings." Sharon had a sigh of relief.

On her way out Taani dialed Rey, "Hello Rey?"

"Haan bolo Taani."

"Aunty ghar pe hai na?"

"Haan. Kyun?"

"Unse milna tha isiliye."

"Okay come home. She is free right now"

Greeting good bye, they ended the call. Rey again entered into his world of thoughts. He was so disconnected to reality that he didn't notice Rohan coming and sitting next to him. On getting no response from Rey, Rohan shook him and brought him out of his thoughts.

"Rohan tum kab aaye?"

"Jab tum apne khayalon mein doobe huye the! Waise what were you thinking about?"

"Taani.." it involuntary escaped Rey's lips.

"Taani?" Rohan asked back.

"Yeah.. the thing is, I somewhat like her.."

Rohan interrupted him, "Rey tumhe meine kahan tha na.."

"Rohan please, not again!"

"Okay, tum mujhe poori story batao."

"I sort of like Taani but I don't know about her feelings. Aur aaj hi mujhe pata chala ki Swayam too likes Taani. Par jab bhi mein Swayam se poochta hoon, he teases me by her name."

"I had warned you about them. Meine kahan tha na ki Swayam is always trying to go after your possessions. See I was right!"

"Rohan tum kyun har cheez ko ussi baatse relate karte ho? The thing is, if Swayam really likes her then I don't want him to back away because of me."

"Then you stop thinking about Taani. She isn't worth it. Tum kyun nahi sunte. Trusting such girls will cost you later on. Trust me aisi ladkiyon ko sirf wealth se pyaar hota hai. Taani tried her hand at you, par tumse usko koi reaction nahi mila, so she turned towards Swayam."

"Rohan tum kya keh rahe ho.."

"I'm showing you the reality! She is a bit.."

"SHUT UP!" Taani shouted from the entrance.

Taani had entered right behind Rohan. She was going towards Rey's mom's room when she heard her name and eavesdropped on their conversation. When Rohan started abusing her, she couldn't keep shut and shouted.

"Dare you speak anything else!" She spoke out angrily pointing at Rohan.

"Better keep your volume down!" Rohan retorted back.

Rey froze on his place on seeing Taani. He didn't know how to respond. He felt his voice getting stuck in his throat.

"And you keep your thoughts to yourself. Some girl tricked you in your past that doesn't mean every girl is the same! Get over it! Aur tum mere bare mein jaante hi kitna ho jo yeh sab keh rahe ho. Haan?"

"Mein tum jaisi ladkiyon ko.."

"Mujh jaisi ladki! I am a normal girl who has self-respect and can't tolerate your nonsense henceforth. Sorry I can't pity you more!"

"Iski himmat dekhi Rey?"

"Meri toh himmat dekh li, but tum mein himmat hai ya nahi Rey? You just said that you like me and here he is abusing me and you just can't take a stand for the one you like? I feel grateful that I have no feeling towards you, else that would be the biggest mistake of my life!"

Taani stormed out of his house leaving Rey, Rohan, Swayam and Nil who had just come over for dinner and had heard Taani's rant. Rohan walked off from there thinking over Taani's words of getting over his past, while Rey still stood frozen. Swayam and Nil rushed to him, but he excused and went to his room. Swayam asked Nil to drop Taani home because of  the state she was in. He feared she might not drive safely. Thankfully Taani did not protest Nil. Swayam followed Rey to his room.

"Rey yeh sab kya ho raha tha?" Swayam grabbed Rey's shoulders.

"I'm such a jerk Swayam, Taani is so right. I can never stand up for the people for whom I care, I never stood up for you two and today not even for her. I'm so useless!" Rey said staring into nothing.

"It's not true Rey. The truth is you can't stand against the people for whom you care. You care for Rohan and hence never retort back at him." Swayam tried to make him feel better.

"I'm glad she doesn't like me" Rey said with a smile. It was hard to decipher the emotion behind his smile.

"What?"

"Yeah! I mean if I can't stand for her then she has no right to like me!"

"Rey.. you know she does like you. Voh bas abhi naraz hai.."

"Swayam stop pushing me towards Taani and you go and confess your feelings to her."

"My feelings?"

"Haan. I know you like her."

"Are you mad? I don't like Taani! I mean she is a good friend but not anything more than that!"

"Toh tum Nil ko kyun bol rahe the ki usse jaake puche if she is single?"

"Nil ko? Oh that, that was regarding Sharon not Taani!"

"Really?"

"Yeah!"

"Then clear this to Sharon, she thinks that you like Taani!"

"No way!" Swayam was shocked.

"She does.."

"Rey I hate you, stop changing the topic. Go and confess your feelings to Taani and clear this mess!"

"I don't have any feelings for her.."

"Rey you.."

"I don't!" Rey dragged Swayam out of his room and closed the door.

Posted: August 10, 2015

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