Chapter 9

Sunday night, Taani's place

Taani is in the kitchen warming up some milk for her as she hasn't felt like eating much since Friday night's incident, she is wearing full sleeve pajamas. Swayam comes out of his room to get water and sees her, "Taani I wanted to give you your space but I just wanted ask if you are okay?" Swayam asks a bit formally as it had been a while since they talked properly. "You don't have to act like you care and I really don't want to talk you so please, spare me this drama" Taani says not even sparing him a glance. 

"Taani tum mujse seedhe muh baat kyun nai kar sakti? Why do you always have to talk to me with this attitude? Aur sirf mujse hi nai, you are to all my friends as well Taani" Swayam says frustratedly, "You can see how rude I am to them but you can't see how rude they are to me? You can't see how your friend hurt me? Are you that blind or do you just not care what happens to me as long as you can be happy with your friends?" Taani says in a disbelieving tone, "I know Rey shouldn't have grabbed you like that without your consent, I talked with him, he promised he wouldn't do something like that" Swayam says looking down.

"He hurt me bhai, I still have a bruise on my elbow, muje pata tha ki aapke friends aapki priority he but what about me bhai? What do you think it makes me feel like knowing my own brother would let some man misbehave with me, hurt me physical and thn to see my brother hang out with that man like nothing happened?" Taani bursts out with anger saying this.

Swayam looks up in surprise, "Bruise? Kesa bruise?" he quickly takes a hold of her hand making her hiss, his hold softens and he rolls up her sleeve to see a hand shaped bruise with some swelling on her elbow, "What the f*ck? Rey did this to you? Bachcha I didnt know, I just thought you guys had a normal couple fight and he was holding you, I didnt know that he was hurting you, I am soo-" Swayam is interrupted by Taani's shout, "Stop, stop it, stop making excuses for your behavior, aapko aapke friends aur dance mubarak ho but I am telling you this once and for all that I don't want anything to do with YOU or your friends, you aren't the bhai I grew up with, I don't know you and nor do I want to get to know you, stay away from me, don't talk to me, don't even look at me" Taani rips her hand out of his grasps and leaves after turning off the gas, Swayam is shocked, he doesn't know what to say so he just stands there. 

Taani comes in her room and cries, remembering how close she used to be with her brother growing up, how they used to have at least one meal of the day together, how he would always hold her hand before crossing the streets even after she was old enough to cross the streets on her own, how he had once threatened a guy in her school just for looking at her creepily aur ab dekho, she thinks with a bitter smile. I am done with all this, I am done with Bhai, with Rey and their friends. Thinking this she goes to sleep.

Monday

Taani reaches college and sees Shreya and Aman standing near the gate so she walks over to them, "Taani! How was your weekend?" Aman asks, "could have been better, how about yours?" Taani says a bit mellowly, "A bit rough, had a raid, a guy from my team got hurt but he will recover soon enough, anyways it was nice seeing you again but I kind of have to rush" Aman says and kisses Shreya's forehead and hugs her, "I will see you tonight". Rey's car comes in at the sametime as Aman is giving a side hug to Taani before leaving. 

Taani sees Rey coming out of his car with an angry expression and quickly takes Shreya's hand and goes inside the college, "Araam se Taani, kya hua achanak se?" Shreya says a but surprised with Taani's sudden behavior, "kuch nai" Taani says looking a bit scared, "Taani we still have some time before our class starts, me soch rhi thi if you wanted to see the music room?" Shreya asks, "umm haan theeke" Taani agrees absentmindedly. They walk towards the music room, its empty with some instruments lying around, "Do you know how to play any of these? Usually people practice here in the afternoon or the evening, isiliye me subah aati hoon yaha" Shreya explains but seeing no expression on Taani's face, "Taani, you know you can tell me anything right? Kuch hua he kya?" Shreya asks in concern, "I know", Taani tells Shreya about the Friday incident which makes Shreya furious, "What the fu*k?! And your brother didn't punch him in the face right thn and there? What kind of a sick person is Rey? You guys aren't even together anymore" Shreya says it in disbelief. 

Taani let's a tear drop, "I was so scared Shreya, I had never seen Rey that angry", Shreya gives her a hug, "you want me to punch him in the face or kick him where the sun doesn't shine?" Shreya says after breaking the hug, Taani chuckles a little at the picture Shreya's words create in her head and she shakes her head, "I am not letting him come near me again but agar zarurat padi toh I will let you know" She replies with a small smile. 

RH

The gang is sitting waiting for Swayam, "Sharon tum ek baar aur try karlo na Swayam ko call karne ki" Simmi says, "Abhi toh call kiya, he didn't pick up, I haven't talked to him since yesterday evening," Sharon says, "meri bhi kal practice ke baad se baat nai hui he usse" Rey says. 

Swayam walks in a few minutes later, "What the hell Swayam, we have been waiting for you for an hour now, kaha reh gye the tum?" Sharon asks irritatedly, "Rey I need to talk to you, bahar aa zara" Swayam orders Rey not paying any attention to Sharon. The gang looks puzzled.

"Haan kya hua bol-", "You will stay away from my sister, I don't care if you love her, I don't care about anything but if I see you near her again, it won't be good for you" Swayam says with a stormy expression, "Swayam kya bol rha he, did she say something?" Rey asks feeling confused, "Rey I am not going to repeat myself, you WILL stay away from her" giving Rey a rough push, Swayam walks in the RH. 

'Ise kya ho gaya, kal tak toh sab theek tha' Rey thinks feeling puzzled, 'Joh bhi hua ho, once I get Taani back, he won't stand between our happiness, he loves Taani too much, he won't do anything to hurt her' thinking this he goes back to the RH as well. Sharon looks at him questioningly but he shakes his head and gives her a smile.

They all start practicing though Swayam is giving Rey a bit of a cold shoulder. 

Classroom

Taani is feeling a lot better after her talk with Shreya, she and Shreya are in the class chuckling about something when Maya walks in, "Good afternoon, let's get started right? Take out your books" Maya starts teaching. After the class ends, "Miss GS, stay back I need to talk to you about something", Taani stays back after giving a nod to Shreya to go on, "VP sir has asked me to join you guys for the NDC competition which is on Friday this week, I need you to fill me on all the details" Maya orders, "Muje kyun nai kaha VP sir ne?" Taani asks, "Kyunki muje keh diya tha, chop chop, I want the documents in my cabin in 5 mins" Maya says, "Ek toh na aap baar baar muje order mat karo, me college ki secretary hoon, aapki secretary nai" Taani fed up with Maya's attitude, "You! Tum ko me kabhi apni secretary banau bhi nai, zero manners he tumme" Maya just as fed up with Taani's attitude. 

"Oh god, ab kya hoga mera, me toh aapki secretary banne ke liye mari ja rhi thi" Taani says in a melodramatic manner which almost makes Maya smile at her antics but she controls herself, she makes a threatening expression and steps towards Taani making Taani step back, "The documents in my office in 3mins" Maya says pointing towards the door, "Abhi toh aapne 5 min kaha tha" Taani says petulantly, "2mins, I am telling you again, you don't want to mess with me Miss GS" Maya says advancing towards Taani which makes Taani scared and she quickly runs out of the classroom making Maya smirk.