Chapter 12

Taani is walking towards Maya's cabin for her detention, she walks in and finds the cabin empty, 'Muje yaha bulake khud pata nai kaha he, who does she think she is?' She is muttering to herself, "Khud se baat karli ho toh padhai karein?" Taani jumps and quickly turns towards the voice and sees Maya in her space, she quickly tries to back off but her foot slips and she closes her eyes thinking she is going to fall but two hands grab her, one around her waist and the other on her arm, she opens her eyes to see Maya holding her, Maya pulls her closer by her waist. 

"Aap kya kar rhe ho?" Taani says in a small voice, "Tumhe girne se bacha rhi hoon, kya lag rha he tumhe?" Maya's breathe is hitting her on her face, their faces are inches apart. Taani swallows nervously at the sudden closeness, her eyes wonder towards Maya's lips and back towards Maya's eyes to see them trained towards her lips. She licks her lips nervously making Maya's eyes darken, "umm but ab toh nai gir rhi na me" hearing her Maya comes to her senses and let's her go quickly. 

Maya walks back and thn goes to her chair and sits down without looking at Taani. "Khade khade kon slip hota he?" She says with clenched teeth, "I slipped because of you! You scared me!" Taani says in an accusing tone, "You wouldn't have gotten scared if you had been paying attention to your surroundings and not talking to yourself like a crazy person" Maya says drily looking at her. "I am a crazy person? You are the crazy person, no you are a creepy person, why did you sneak up behind me like that?" Taani points a finger at Maya. 

Maya looks at her finger and thn Taani, raises her eyebrow which makes Taani lower her finger. "Ho gaya tumhara? Sit down and take out your books" Maya orders. "Stop ordering me around" Taani grumbles but does as Maya had said. 

"I will do whatever I want to do, now open page number 138" Maya goes through the chapter which she had already gone through with the class a few hours ago. They study for an hour, "hmm aajke liye itna hi, you can leave now" Maya says in a dismissing tone. Taani packs her stuff and leaves her cabin, you can leave now Taani mimicks in Maya's voice making faces while leaving college.

Its 7 pm and Taani is standing at the bus stop waiting for her bus, its already a little dark out and she hadn't been able to find an auto due to the auto strike going on so she just impatiently waits for the bus. There were a few guys sitting on the stand which was making Taani a bit uncomfortable as they kept staring at her.

Maya and Shreya are driving by when Shreya makes Maya stop the car infront of Taani, "Taani, come we will give you a ride" Shreya says motioning Taani to seat in the car, "Nai koi baat nai, I will wait for the bus" Taani says looking at Maya's face, "Get in" Maya orders after seeing the way the men were looking at Taani. "Mene kaha na I will wait for the bus" Taani says annoyed at Maya for ordering her again. "Miss GS muje koi shauk nai he aapko lift dene ka, if you want to stay here and wait for the bus with those creeps while the bus might come or not thn its your choice" Maya pointing towards the men, Taani looks at them and thn at Maya and thinks its better to choose the lesser evil and gets into the backseat. While Shreya is giving Maya knowing looks which is annoying Maya.

"Di aap pehle muje drop kar dijyega na, dad ka call aaya tha to come home early" Shreya says, Maya nods and drives towards Shreya's house. "Taani, wog Di ki class miss hui thi na toh I borrowed Abhi's notes, you can copy them so you will know about the stuff that Di taught today." Shreya says looking turning towards Taani, "Umm actually I went through the chapter and made notes on it in detention" Taani replies. "Oh nice" Shreya turns towards Maya with a smirk. "Wipe it off your lips right now or you will also have a detention tomorrow with your new best friend" Maya says without looking at Shreya, "Arey yeh kya baat hui, I am not in college rn and you aren't my prof here" Shreya says with a pout. "So?" Maya says making Shreya roll her eyes.

"Di woh vada pav ke stall pe ek min roko na, muje bahot bhukh lagi he" Shreya says pointing towards the stall, "Abhi keh rhi thi na tum ki bade papa ka call aaya tha jaldi aane ke liye?" Maya says, "Haan na but mene lunch bhi achche se nai kiya tha and subah jaldi me breakfast bhi miss ho gaya tha, please na Di, please please pleaseeeeee", "stop it" Maya says glaring at Shreya but thn pulls over to the stall. 

"Tum dono betho car me, mein leke aati hoon" Maya says getting out of the car, "You are quite close to Ma'am na?" Taani asks having observed Shreya's behavior towards Maya, "Haan, she tries to be this mean lady but she almost always fulfills my wishes, she doesn't like to admit it but she is the one who spoils me the most, woh dantti he kabhi kabar but she never let's anyone shout or scold me, not even my parents" Shreya says giggling making Taani smile. 

Taani remembers how Swayam used to be like that too, don't go there Taani. He isn't the same anymore and you can't honestly expect him to be either. 

Taani looks out the window towards Maya who is ordering vada pavs, she sees some kids who look like beggars come towards Maya asking for food, Maya gets them some vada pavs too making Taani smile, Shreya follows her gaze and sees where Taani is looking and smiles too. 

Maya walks back towards the car and gives one packet to Shreya and with a little hesitation to Taani as well, waiting for Taani to reject it but Taani just whispers a thanks and takes it. Maya turns the car on and drives off.

"Hmmm kya vada pav he, uff, kya bhookh lag rhi thi, thanks di" Shreya says with her mouth full. "Shreya how many times have I told you to not talk with your mouth full? Also why are you skipping meals? " Maya makes a disapproving face. "A million times already I guess, aapne apne liye kyun nai liya? Muje skipping meals pe lecture dete ho jabki I rarely miss my meals whereas you miss your meals all the time, yeh lo take a bite" Shreya says offering the vada pav to Maya, Maya takes a bite, Taani smiles at the sisters and quietly eats her vada pav. 

"Okay, goodnight Taani, goodnight Di, drive safe" saying this Shreya walks into her house as she knows Maya won't drive off until she has. "Ab chalen?" Taani asks after Shreya has gone in, "I am not your driver, come and sit in the front seat" Maya orders.

"Kyun?", "Kyunki me bol rhi hoon" Maya says, "Toh aap kya koi president ho, me theek hoon yaha, aap gadi chalaiye" Taani replies, "I am not driving until you come and sit in the front seat" Maya says stubbornly, she is quite enjoying cribbing with Taani, not many people talk back to her. 

"Fine, if you want me to sit in the front sit thn say please" Taani says after thinking for a minute, "me please kyun bolun?" Maya looks back at Taani, "kyun me bol rhi hoon" Taani says with a cheeky grin. Maya looks at her smile and thn at her eyes, she leans back towards Taani making Taani squirm back, "You won't come sit in the front seat if I didnt say please?" Maya asks leaning more, "Umm haan, say please" Taani says feeling a little flustered but trying to stand her ground. "Theeke, mat aao" saying so she leans away from Taani and turns towards the front and starts the car. 

Taani is speechless, 'Yeh baar baar ese kyun behave karti he mere sath? Maybe because she likes making me scared, she probably gets off on making people scared, haan thats it' Taani thinks to herself. 

Taani and Maya are silent the rest of the way to Taani's house, Maya stops the car when Taani tells her to, Taani gets out of the car and after a moment says thanks to Maya for dropping her off, "you are welcome", Taani turns and goes towards her house, opening the door she looks back to see Maya still there, she goes inside after giving Maya one last look, she hears the car go after she has locked the door. 

'Maya what are you doing, have you lost it? Baar baar uski personal space kyun invade kar rhi he, but woh muje rok kyun nai rhi? Why didn't she just push me away? Maya stop this nonsense, kal se you are going to maintain some distance from her" Maya thinks while driving towards her own house.