Chapter 4

Khurana Office

Its 6PM and Yash looks at Taani working, "Taani beta chalo, baki ka kaam kal continue karna. Let's go home, Shalini wait kar rhi hogi." "Ji uncle, bas hogaya." Taani replies to Yash and wraps up her work.

"Dad sath nikle ghar ke liye?" Aditya asks coming into Yash's office, "Haan chalo me aur Taani bhi nikal hi rhe the ghar ke liye, Taani yeh he mera bada beta Aditya and Aditya yeh he Taani, Rishi's brother's daughter." "Uncle woh subah Abhay ne introduce kara diya tha hume." Taani says looking at Yash and trying to ignore Aditya who is again looking at her intensely. ["yeh itna creepily kyun dekh raha he muje?" Taani thinks to herself.] [Aditya thinks to himself ki yaar why can't I stop staring at her? Her is just as pretty as her looks] 

"Achcha, fir chalo nikalte he." saying this Yash leaves his office and Taani follows him, Aditya also comes out of his daze and follows them. They get in the car with Aditya in the front seat with the driver and Taani and Yash in the back seat. "So Taani tumhe humara office kesa lag rha he?" Aditya asks Taani, trying to make a conversation with her. "Achcha lag rha he." she gives a short reply thinking it will make him to stop talking to her as she is feeling a bit awkward with all the attention she is getting from him. Aditya sensing her reluctance stops talking as he doesn't want her to be uncomfortable. Yash is busy checking his mails so he doesn't strike up any conversation and the remaining ride is a silent one. 

As they reach Khurana Mansion, Taani is amazed seeing its beauty, they all get down from the car and get inside the house, "Taani! Beta kesi ho tum? Kitni badi ho gyi ho, aur yeh kya itni kamzor kyun lag rhi ho? Swayam tumhara khyal nahi rakh rha?" Shalini says as soon as she sees Taani, after giving her a hug and cupping Taani;s cheeks lovingly. [Yeh Swayam kon he? Kahi yeh shadi shuda toh nahi? Aditya thinks why should her being married bother me?] 

Taani feels a bit emotional hearing Shalini's caring words and loving touch as she misses her mom and taiji and hasn't felt motherly love in a while. "Me theek hoon Aunty, aap kese ho ab? aapko kya laga tha me abhi bhi woh 15 saal ki bachhi houngi?" Taani says jokingly, "Aur me kaha aapko kamzor lag rhi hoon? Also me Swayam bhai ke sath nai rehti, unka ghar office se kafi dur he so me shift ho gyi hoon." [Bhai? oh thank god, yaar muje ispe crush toh nai aa rha? I need to maintain some distance from her] 

"Arey usse bethne dogi ya bas ese darwaze se hi sari interrogation karogi?" Yash asks Shalini. "Arey me bhi na, aao aao, andar aao beta." They all go into the living room, "Abhay kaha he maa?" Aditya asks Shalini as they all take a sit, Taani sit with Shalini on the sofa and Aditya and Yash sit on the opposite sofa chairs. "Woh apne kamre he, bas aata hi hoga." Shalini replies.

Taani and Shalini busy themselves with catching up with eachother while Yash goes to get freshen up. Aditya sits and listens to his mom and Taani talk, feeling his stare Taani looks in his direction and they make eye contact. [ Hey Krishnaji inko kya problem he, subah se bas jab dekho ese ghurte jate he, mereko na yeh chichchore lagte he ] Taani goes back to ignoring him. 

"Hi Taani, hi bro" Abhay says as he enters the living room, "Hi Abhay/Hi" Taani and Aditya say at the same time. They share a look which is interrupted by Yash, "Ab khana khane nahi bethna kya?", "Haan haan muje bahot bhookh lag rhi he" Abhay whines. "Chalo Taani" Shalini says getiing up and Taani follows her as they all go into the dining room. 

As they take a sit, Yash sits at the head of the table and Shalini sits next to him and Taani next to her while Aditya sits opposite to Taani with Abhay next to him. Shalini serves Taani, "Arey aunty me le lungi na, aap pareshan kyun ho rhi he?" Taani says. "isme pareshani kesi?" Shalini replies. "So Taani, tumhari hobbies kya he?" Abhay asks, " I like Kathak, I was a GS in my college and I like to read." Taani replies, "Aur Taani humesha top karti he apni sari classes, don't think Rishi doesn't brag about you everytime I talk to him." Yash says making Taani blush. 

[Here Aditya gets mesmerised seeing Taani blush] "Kya baat he, so I heard you left your college to join office? why?" Abhay asks, "woh-" Taani gets interrupted, "Abhay don't make her uncomfortable by asking personal questions." Yash says sternly. "Sorry taani, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." Abhay apologizes, "Arey no you didn't make me uncomfortable, its just that I don't really like talking about my college life." Taani replies a bit timidly. Trying to take the attention from Taani because he can see her feeling awkward Aditya starts talking about work, "Dad aapne Mr Oberoi ki files dekhi?" , "Nai muje aaj time hi nai mila." Yash replies, "Ghar ke kya rules he?" Shalini asks in a stern voice while glaring at Aditya and Yash, Abhay snickers, "No business talks on the dining table, sorry love." Yash looks apologeticaly at his wife. Here Abhay and Aditya make gaging noises hearing their father call their mother Love, while Shalini blushes. Taani is a little surprised seeing the older couple's affection towards eachother and laughs seeing the childish behavior of Abhay and Aditya. "Tum bhi na" Shalini says and shakes her head. They finish thier dinner with idle chit chat.

After dinner Taani says "Ab me chalti hoon, warna fir auto nai milegi." Arey auto kyun? Adi tum jake chhor aao Taani ko." Yash says, "Uncle uski zarurat nai he, me chali jaungi." Taani says not wanting to intrude. "Nai papa aap sahi keh rhe he, me chhor aata hoon, wese bhi aapko auto milne me time lagega abhi." he says looking at Taani, "Haan beta let him come drop you." Shalini insists. Taani not wanting to sound rude agrees, she hugs Shalini bye and shakes Abhay's hand and wishes evryone gn and leaves, Aditya following her. 

"Aap yah rukiye me gadi leke aata hoon" saying this Aditya leaves, soon  he arrives in his car and Taani sits in the passenger sit and puts her seat belt on. "Thank you for giving me a ride." Taani says to Aditya, "You are welcome, hope you enjoyed the dinner?" Aditya asks, "I did, yaha se right and fir straight." she gives him her address, "What are your future plans? I mean after finishing your college?" Aditya asks wanting to strike up a conversation with her, "Well abhi toh I want to work under Yash sir for abit and thn get my MBA after which I will start working on my family business with Tauji." replies Taani. "quite ambitious, your parents must be proud of you." Aditya says smiling, "My parents are no more, they passed away when I was a kid." Taani says a bit stoicly, "I am so sorry" Aditya feels bad for mentioning it. "Its fine, you did't know, haan bas yahi rok dijiye gadi." Taani says with a small smile. Aditya stops the car and Taani gets out, "Again thanks for the ride, goodnight." "You are welcome, again, umm so me chalta hoon?" he asks wanting to stay for a bit longer and talk to her but knowing that would come off as creepy, "Haan." Taani replies, "okay, bye, it was nice meeting you." Aditya says and watches Taani go inside her building. [Adi you need to stop behaving like a love sick puppy, you don't even know her and yet she affecting you so much] He drives off. 

Here Taani opens her door and goes into her bedroom and thows herself on the bed feeling tired but happy, she missed being surrounded by people who weren't throwing her glares and making her feel small just because she was a nondancer.