Chapter 11

Tuesday

Taani and Swayam didn't really see each other much on Monday, Swayam feeling guilty and not knowing how to make things right, just stays out of Taani's way, Taani on the other hand is grateful as she didn't really want to talk to Swayam. 

Taani gets ready and goes to college early today, she is meeting Shreya for a music practice.

Shreya

"Di, please na, Taani wait kar rhi hogi mera, please drop kardo na" Shreya is begging Maya as Shreya's car had broken down and Aman was out of town. "Toh use keh de tuje le jaye" Maya says drily on the call, "she doesn't have a car, please na Di, bhav kyun kha rhe ho, please please pleaseeee" Shreya whines. "Aa rhi hoon" Maya says getting irritated with the pleaseee, "yay, thank you!" 

Maya goes to Shreya's house to pick her up, "Thank you so much Di, you are the best" Shreya says getting in the car, "haan haan, zyada makhkhan lagane ki zarurat nai he, aur tuje koi dhang ka nai mila friend banane ke liye other thn that Miss GS?" Maya says driving towards the college. "Oi, kya kharabi he usme? Aapko toh koi achcha nai lagta" Shreya says making a face, "Ek toh koi baat nai manti, apne Professor ki respect nai karti ulta zaban ladati he, khudki galti hone per bhi samne wale pe chadh jati he-", "bas bas, mamla na thoda garam hone laga he esa lag rha he muje" Shreya says with a tiny smirk. 

"Kya matlab he tera?" Maya asks giving her a look, "Kuch nai, bas yahi ki aap dono kuch zyada hi ek dusre se affect ho rhe ho..." Shreya says teasingly, "Shut up, kuch bhi bakwas karegi? One she is straight and second she is mannerless-", "ohhh toh woh agar straight nai hoti toh koi problem nai hoti aapko?" Shreya says with an evil glint, "Stop looking at me like that, you know I didnt mean it that way, stop talking altogether, lag rha he subah subah pi rakhkhi he tune" Maya says irritated with Shreya's talks.

"Theek he, jesa aap kahe" Shreya says and thn makes a zipping her mouth motion. Maya and Shreya get to the college, its mostly empty with a few students roaming around.

"I am going to my cabin" Maya says walking away, "Arey, kyun? Mere sath chalo, its been a while since heard me sing, yahi keh rhi thi na aap kal raatko dinner pe?" Shreya says tugging at Maya's hand and pulling her in the direction towards the music room. As they near the room, they hear a melodic voice singing which surprises them, Maya gets lost in the voice and starts walking towards it without Shreya having to tug her. They both get to the music room door and peer in to see Taani singing with her eyes closed, Maya gets lost in the beauty infront of her who has such an angelic voice, Shreya looks impressed hearing Taani and looks towards Maya to see her reaction and she is surprised to see Maya smiling looking at Taani. 

Aa sajna in naina mein

Palak dhak tohe loon

Na main dekhoon gair ko

Na tohe dekhan doon

Kajal dalu kirkar, jo surma diya na jaye

Jin nainan mein pee basey,

Dooja kaun samaey

Chhap tilak sab cheeni

Chhap tilak sab cheeni

Mohse naina milaike

Chhap tilak sab cheeni

Mohse naina milaike

Naina milaike mohse saina milaike

Naina milaike mohse saina milaike

Chhap tilak sab cheeni

Mohse naina milaike

Chhap tilak sab cheeni

Mohse naina milaike

Premwati ka madwa pilai ke

Premwati ka madwa pilai ke

Matwari kar deeni mohse naina milaike

Matwari kar deeni mohse naina milaike

Gori gori baiyan, hari-hari choodiyan

Gori gori baiyan, hari-hari choodiyan

Baiyan pakad har leeni mohse naina milaike

Baiyan pakad har leeni mohse naina milaike

Bal bal jaun tore rang rejwa,

Bal bal jaun tore rang rejwa,

Apni si rang deeni mohse naina milaike,

Apni si rang deeni mohse naina milaike,

Khusro nizam ke bali bali jai hain

Khusro nizam ke bali bali jai hain

Khusro nizam ke bali bali jai hain

Mohe suhagan keenhi mose naina milaike

Mohe suhagan keenhi mose naina milaike

Taani opens her eyes hearing someone clapping, she turns around to see Shreya smiling and clapping but what surprises her is Maya standing next to Shreya, looking at her with with a lost look, she gets lost in her eyes as well but Shreya's words bring her back to the reality, "wow Taani, that was amazing, you should definitely sing more!!" Shreya says coming closer to Taani, "Umm I have some work, I will see you later Shrey" Maya leaves without waiting for a response.

'Why is my heart beating so fast by just lookin at her? Her voice... its so beautiful and her eyes, they felt so full of depth, as if- nai nai, nope, not going there, nope. Shreya ki bachchi, usne bakwas daldi he mere dimag me ughh' Maya mutters to herself as she walks off towards her cabin. 

Taani and Shreya are going over the NDC trip arrangements in the canteen when the gang (except Rey, Swayam and Sharon) walks in, Kriya goes towards Taani, "Hey Taani, kesi ho?", Taani is surprised to see Kriya talking to her but she replies back politely, "Me theek hoon, just a bit busy with the NDC trip planning, aap kesi he?", "Actually muje usi baarein me puchchna tha, could I accompany the gang and you for the NDC trip?" Kriya asks a bit nervously, "Umm sorry Kriya but last minute me changes nai ho sakte, I have already sent them the list of people who will be attending yesterday" Taani says with an apologetic look. 

"Itna bhav kyun kha rhi ho, ek hi person ko add karne ke liye bol rhe he na? She will anyways share the room with the girls" Simmi says rudely, "First of all Simmi, don't talk to me in that tone, second its not just about the rooming arrangement, pass ka bhi issue hoga, I will have to take a permission from VP sir as well as the NDC organizers-", "haan toh lele na permission" Vicky interrupts her, "Excuse me, like she said earlier, don't talk to her in that rude tone, also you guys have no right to order her around so back off" Shreya says finally not being able to take how rude the gang was being to Taani. 

"Oh hello, tumse baat ki kisine? Nai na, toh mind your own business" Simmi says rudely to Shreya, "enough, leave us alone, agar aapko kuch issue he toh take it to VP sir" Taani says turning her back towards them and signaling Shreya to ignore them.

"Seedha seedha bolna ki tuje Kriya se jalan ho rhi he? Isiliye tu nai chahti na ki woh NDC attend kare?" Vicky says, "Vicky stop it, mene pehle hi kaha tha na ki mera last minute aana won't be possible, she is just do in her job, chalo yaha se" Kriya says dragging the gang with her. 

"What kind of sick people are they? Why don't you reply back to them?" Shreya says looking at their retreating figures with a disgusted look, "Because they are Bhai's best friends and also because I don't want to stoop to their levels aur nahi mujme energy he unpe waste karne ke liye, now let's just get back to the work" and Shreya does as Taani says for the moment as she can see Taani a little disturbed by the gang's behavior.

Maya is in the middle of teaching the class when Shreya and Taani knock, ask if they can come in, "No you can't" saying this Maya gets back to where she had stopped, "Ma'am can I ask why we can't come in?" Taani asks with clenched teeth, "Because I said so, now stop disturbing my class Miss GS" Maya replies drily, "Ma'am we were doing our GS/AGS duties-" Taani is interrupted by Maya, "Detention after college Miss GS, meet me in my cabin, one more word out of your mouth and it will be two days" Maya says looking at Taani almost daring her to utter another word, "You!-" Taani says with anger, "Two detentions, want to make it three?" Hearing Maya, Shreya quickly takes Taani's hand and tugs her away before she could get in any more trouble. 

"Did you see what she just did? Me unhe chhorungi nai, samjti kya he woh apne aapko? I have never gotten a detention before! I hate her-" Taani is beyond pissed off now, "Taani calm down-", "Taani!" Both Shreya and Taani turn around to see Kriya running towards them, "Woh I talked to VP sir and he said that its fine if I come along with you guys to NDC competition", "Okay, just send me your ID number and I will register to you" Taani says a little absentmindedly, "oh thank you! Also tumlogo ko bhi Maya ma'am ne andar nai jaane diya class me? Muje bhi thoda late ho gaya tha VP sir ki office me so she didnt let me go in either, she is quite strict" Kriya complains, "She is a professor Kriya, she is supposed to be strict" Taani says, hearing her Kriya is a little surprised where as Shreya is looking at her with mouth hanging open. 

"Don't look at me like that, Shreya fill up the form for Kriya's registration muje kuch kaam he, I will see you guys later" saying so Taani walks away.