Chapter 15

Taani is looking at Shreya in shock, the gang and Maya are looking at them, surprised with Taani's shout. 

"Kya hua Taani?" Swayam asks, "huh? Kuch nai" She says absentmindedly, "Tu pagal ho gyi he? Kya nab shanab bol rhi he?!" Taani whispers sharply in Shreya's ear, everyone has gone back to talking among themselves but Maya is looking at Taani and Shreya. 

"Mene toh ese hi keh diya tha, tu itna hyper kyun ho rhi he?" Shreya asks smugly, "Me hyper nai ho rhi, tu pakka pagal ho gyi he, she is my professor!" Taani says defensively, "oh toh yeh problem he, she is only a temporary professor yk that right?" Shreya slyly, "I don't see her that way and neither does she! We dislike each other for Godsake!" Taani replies. 

"Are you sure that you guys dislike each other? I see the way she looks at you, yk?" Shreya says, "How does she look at me?" Taani whispers feeling unsure if she wants to hear the answer. "Well tumhe kya farak padta he, you dislike her na, let's change the topic" Shreya says cheekily.

Taani can't get Shreya's words out of her mind, everyone is sleeping but she can't seem to fall asleep, she keeps on looking at Maya's sleeping face. 'Yeh Shreya ka dimag kharab ho gaya he, ma'am mostly just glares at me... but she sometimes looks at me lik- nai, nai, she is your professor and also she is wayyy out of your league. Don't go there Taani, you already know what happens when you go out with people out of your league, Rey ne toh phir bhi Bhai ki wajah se notice kar liya tha but why would Maya ma'am look at me like that.' Taani falls asleep thinking all this.

Taani wakes up to someone gently nudging her, she looks up to see Maya standing next to her seat, "We are here, come on wake up, Shreya wake up" Maya leans over Taani to nudge at the sleeping Shreya making Taani inhale sharply, Maya looks over to her and their lips almost brush, "Umm" Shreya let's out at being woken up, Maya quickly steps away and clears her throat where Taani is shocked, "Pahoch gye?" Shreya says looking around to see everyone is slowly waking up. "Kya hua Taani? Itna hanf kyun rhi he?" Shreya asks in concern, "Kuch nai, niche chalte he, formalities complete kar lete he jaldi se" Taani stands up and sidestepping Maya quickly gets down from the bus.

'Hey Krishnaji, what just happened?! It was an accident but my heart feels like its going to jump of out my chest!!! Yeh sab us Shreya ki wajah se ho rha he, na woh mere dimag me yeh sari baatein dalti aur na hi me-' Taani mutters to herself making crying faces

"Ise kya hua?" Shreya asks looking at Maya who is standing very stiffly, "Muje kese pata, tell everyone to get down quickly" saying so Maya gets down from the bus as well.

"Miss GS, wait" Maya calls out Taani and Taani who was walking towards the entrance stops but doesnt turn back, Maya goes and stands in front of her, "I am sorry for what happened in the bus, it won't happen again." Maya says cursing herself for the almost kiss, even if it was an accident she should have been more careful.

Taani feels a little bad hearing about it not happening again but she quickly composes herself, 'why would it, I knew it, she isn't into me like that', "Its okay, it was an accident, I have to go now" Taani says walking away. 

The team comes down with Shreya and Kriya in tow, they wait with Maya at the entrance for Taani. "Yeh rhe aap logo ke pass, the Sharon, Kriya and Simmi will be sharing a room and  Vishakha, Neha and Rinni will be sharing another. Boys guys have a hall, you will all have to share that" Taani says coming back towards them.

"Yeh kya baat hui, girls ko special treatment kyun? Taani this is not done" Vicky says looking at her as its her fault, "Excuse me, stop complaining and get settled in your rooms, you guys have a competition to perform on tomorrow" Maya says not politely, "Haan guys, chalo" Sharon says and they all go in.

"Taani where will we be staying?" Shreya asks, " we will be staying in that room, here's the key and ma'am here is your key to your room" Taani says handing a key to Maya avoiding looking at Maya's face.

Maya and Shreya notice it, Maya thinks that she is uncomfortable because of the almost kiss and so just leaves towards her room.

Shreya and Taani walk into their room, "Kya hua he?" Shreya asks Taani as soon as their door is closed.

"Kya hua he? Kuch bhi toh nai" Taani replies. Shreya takes Taani's hand and tugs her towards the bed making her sit on it.

"Taani I know we have only known each other for a few weeks but I really consider you my best friend and I don't like seeing you upset, did I make you upset by my teasing in the bus? If so thn I am really sorry" Shreya says holding her ears making Taani smile, she is really touched seeing Shreya's concern.

"I consider you my best friend too Shreya and I not upset with you at all, don't think that, I know you were just teasing me" Taani says with a smile. "Thn tell me why you are upset, batao na" Shreya says. 

"After my breakup with Rey I have had very low selfesteem and today when you teased me it made me realize how out of league Rey was for me, Ma'am too" Taani says looking down. "Are you mad? If anything you are out of league for Rey! As for Di, she is so not out of league for you, I even think she likes you, jabse tum log mile ho, she constantly talks about you, she keeps on staring at you when you are not looking, she notices everything about you, she even smiles at you! Do you know how big of a deal that is?" Shreya goes on, "And can you even blame her, I mean look how beautiful you are, with such an amazing voice and such a warm heart, you could charm anyone you want." Shreya says with a confidence.

"Bahot zyada ho gaya esa nai lag rha tuje?" Taani says feeling overwhelmed, "Taani, I am serious, don't underestimate yourself, don't pull yourself down because of some guy who didnt know how to value you, life is too short to dwell on past, give yourself a chance and after that give it another chance, keep doing it until you are happy" Shreya says.

Taani hugs Shreya tightly, "You are right, thank you!" They break the hug and before anyone them could say anything they hear a knock, "Haan ek second", its Maya, "Dinner karne chalo" She says as soon as Shreya opens the door. "Aap order diye bina baat karna kab sikhoge?" Taani says who was standing behind Shreya. 

"Jab aap mujse har baat behas karna bandh kardengi" Maya retorts back hearing Taani talking to her normally.  "Aap behas karti he mere sath, me nahi" Taani replies, "Tum log yahi ladte rho, me dinner karne ja rhi" hearing Shreya Taani quickly follows her. "Nai, me bhi aa rhi hoon na, muje ese khadoos logo ke sath akele chhorke jayegi tu?" Taani says walking beside Shreya, "Yeh khadoos kisi keh rhi ho tum?" Maya says walking behind them, "aapko" Taani turns and pokes her tongue at Maya before turning back. Maya smiles at her antics.

Shreya and Maya go towards the buffet, while Taani goes towards the gang as Sharon had called her, "Haan Sharon, kuch kaam tha?" Taani asks, "Yeah I just wanted to double check ki humari performance 11am ko he na kal?" Sharon asks wanting to reconfirm. "Haan, its at 11am-" Taani gets a call and sees that its Aman so she smiles picking up the call, "Itni jaldi miss karne lage muje?" Taani says teasingly, making Swayam uncomfortable where as Rey is furiously lookin at her, 'I have to talk to her, she can't just leave me like, pehle laga tha maybe space doon but I can't loose her, I will talk to her'.

"Haan, muje laga hi tha, ruko doh min", Taani puts the phone on hold and looks at the team, "aur kuch kaam he?" She asks and they shake their head in negative so she walks away towards Shreya. She is out of their earshot and almost out of the view, "Yeh lo tumhare bf ka call he" Taani says handing the phone to Shreya, Maya makes a face at the word bf, "Aap ese muh kyun bana rhi he? Privacy dijiye inhe, let's go sit there" Taani says tugging Maya a bit far from Shreya making Maya surprised with the sudden frankness in Taani's behavior. 

They both sit down and start eating, "Kuch alag si lag rhi ho" Maya wonders out loud, "Kesi alag?" Taani asks, "Pata nai, bas alag" Maya says shrugging. Taani smiles remembering Shreya's comment about Maya noticing her, "Are you single because of your bossy personality?" Hearing Taani Maya almost chokes but quickly drinks some water, "what?" Maya asks in a shocked tone. 

"Why are you interested in my relationship status?" Maya asks perplexed, "aapko nai batana toh mat bataiye" Taani says looking down a bit upset, she thinks what if Maya is dating someone or something or what if sees me as some kid?', Maya gives her a long look, "I was in a relationship for four years, she dumped me to marry some guy two years ago because she didn't want to tell her parents that she was into women" hearing Maya Taani looks up in shock, "Haven't found anyone, haven't really searched for someone to be honest after she left" Maya says looking away from Taani's searching eyes.

"Do you still love her?" Taani asks making Maya look at her, "No, I haven't for a while now" Maya answers and they both just look at each other. "Kya baat ho rhi he?" They both jump as they hadn't heard her coming, "Kuch nai, jaldi khale, we all have to wake up early tomorrow" Maya says to Shreya.

Taani is quietly eating trying to process what Maya just told her, 'How hurt must Ma'am have been when their ex left them, I was barely with Rey for a 8 months and I still had such a hard time getting over him, yaha toh chaar saal. No wonder ma'am is such a khadoos" 

"Taani chale?" She looks up to see Shreya done with her food and even Taani's plate is empty, Maya is looking at her with one of those searching looks. "Shreya tu ja, me and aur Miss GS baadme aate he" Maya says looking at Shreya, Shreya is a bit surprised but goes after wishing Maya goodnight.

Maya and Taani stand up, Maya guides Taani towards the entrance of the institute, Taani follows her without a word. As they get to the road, its mostly deserted, "Do you find the idea of me with a woman uncomfortable?" Maya says looking forward, "Matlab?" Taani asks not understanding, "Matlab do you find the idea of two women or men together romantically uncomfortable?" Maya clarifies but doesn't look at Taani.

"No, why would I?" Taani asks, "most people do" Maya replies, "well thn I am not most people and also it would be hypocritical of me to be homophobic being bisexual myself" Taani blurts out and looks away. 

"Thank you for telling me" Maya says squeezing Taani's hand and letting go but Taani grabs her hand making Maya look at her with surprise.