"Kahan pahuchi?" Rey asked over the phone.
"Almost there." Taani answered.
"Okay. Call me when you reach." Rey ended the call.
"Kidar hai." Swayam asked him.
"On the way."
"Voh log aane tak kuch order karte hai." Sharon suggested.
"Tu decide karke aayi hai ki aaj talli hona hai?" Rey mocked.
"Yes! Now order something." She demanded.
"Three beers." Rey placed the order.
"Make it two." Swayam corrected.
"Oh yeah, you're driving. Make it two beers and a lemonade for him." Rey chuckled.
"Apple juice with cinnamon please." Swayam placed his order.
"Mmm, I love the taste of cinnamon." Sharon smiled slyly reminiscing.
Swayam looked at her wide eyed and quickly composed himself when he saw realization hit Rey.
"Too much information." Rey made a gross face and picked up his phone which was flashing Taani's name.
"We've reached." She informed him.
"Yeah I'm coming out. Wait there." He instructed and went to receive her.
"Hi." He went in for a hug and she awkwardly hugged him back. "I did it again, didn't I?" He asked pulling back.
"No." She laughed. "You blocked my arm."
"You mean to say that you're fine with it now?" He joked.
"Getting used to it." She blushed.
"Mm-hmn." Arjun cleared his throat.
"Rey, let me officially introduce you to my friends, Arjun and Purvi."
"Arjun? As in your ex. Right?" Rey wiggled his brows suggestively at Taani, making her flush.
"What?" Arjun was baffled.
"Long story bro. Let's get in." Rey moved to the door followed by the rest.
"Yeh kya bol raha tha?" Arjun whispered to Taani.
"Kuch nahi. Actually, roke ke din.." she stopped, thought over it and continued. "Actually mein lambi story hai. Baad mein batati hoon."
"Hi." Sharon greeted them as they arrived at the table.
"Sorry thoda late hua." Taani apologized.
"Don't fret. Do late lateefs toh the hi, abh teen aur sahi." Swayam smirked.
"Teen nahi, sirf yeh do." Arjun pointed at Purvi and Taani.
"Oh, come on, ready hone thoda toh time lagta hai na?" Purvi innocently defended.
"Exactly!" Rey agreed.
"Tu toh agree karega hi. Teko toh sabse jyada time lagta hai." Swayam taunted.
"Chup be!" Rey rubbished him.
"Next time jab plan bane tab tu aur Taani timer lagana. I'm sure voh terese pehle ready hojayegi." Swayam mocked to which Rey rolled his eyes.
"You two girls stop bickering." Sharon scoffed at them. "Aur tum teeno, decide your orders fast. Aisi rukhi sukhi gathering nahi pasand meko."
"I don't drink." Taani confessed and Rey gulped his beer audibly.
"Oh, I thought.." Rey looked embarrassed. "That was why I asked you to not drive and take a cab."
"I guessed that. Par still cab li as this one here is a light weight. Isko sambhalna padta hai aur drive karte waqt voh karna is a task." Taani chuckled pointing at Purvi.
"Great, I have company then." Swayam said.
"You too don't drink?" Taani questioned.
"No, I'm driving today." He answered.
"What are you having then?"
"Apple juice with cinnamon."
"I like cinnamon. I'll order the same."
Rey choked on his drink when she mentioned cinnamon.
"Rey, isse bhi pasand hai." Sharon nudged him knowingly.
"What's wrong?" Taani narrowed her brows.
"Nothing." He said catching his breath.
...
"Tum dono confess kyun nahi karte ki tum teen saal se secretly date kar rahe ho?" Arjun pointed at Rey and Taani. "It feels like you two know each other since ages!"
"Technically, we do know each other since the last three years." Rey chuckled. "And about that confession, I will confess only if Taani accepts that you are her ex." He smirked at her.
"That's not true!" Taani silenced his false claim.
"Sorry Arjun, then this isn't true either." Rey dismissed him.
"Okay that's it! What the hell is this link up?" Purvi slammed her drink down.
"Araam se! Yeh club ki property hai. Tod mat." Taani said tongue-in-cheek and pulled her glass away.
"No seriously, suspense bohot create kar liya." Arjun wanted the story out.
"Maine koi suspense nahi create kiya hai. There is nothing to say. That was just a joke." Taani explained.
"As a joke, you told him that you dated my boyfriend?" Purvi asked with a sad face.The effects of alcohol were starting to show.
"Definitely a light weight!" Sharon giggled.
"Purvi aisi kuch baat nahi hai. Hum roke ke baad bas baat kar rahe the and she happened to mention Arjun. Aur jab maine pucha toh she started behaving awkward. So, to lighten the mood, I made that joke." Rey explained.
"Haan toh abhi tak joke kyun continue kar rahe ho?" She pouted.
"We need to celebrate this with another round of shots!" Sharon suggested.
"We will, but not her." Arjun pointed at Purvi. "Isne ek aur li toh idar hi out!"
"Okay then, just us." Sharon said dejectedly. "Taani, you wanna try?"
"Shar, usse lena hota toh voh khud bolti." Rey replied on her behalf.
"Now, I seriously think that Arjun is right." Sharon eyed Rey and Taani.
"Yeh flashback mein exactly hua kya tha?" Swayam questioned.
"Tereko jaan ke kya karna hai? Tu cinnamon kha na mere bhai." Rey mocked him.
Arjun started laughing and everyone looked at him. Few concerned, while most enjoying his presumably drunken state.
"Tujhe kya hua?" Taani asked.
"Tereko." He laughed more.
"Oh." She looked down embarrassed.
"Um, what?" Rey knotted his brows.
"I just remembered how hyper-allergic Taani was to Mumbaiyya hindi. Ek ghanta lecture diya tha isne meko on how to speak correct hindi! Par uska kuch fayda nahi hua." He admitted shamelessly.
"Thanks a lot, mereko yeh batane ke liye." Rey gave an evil smile.
"Mereko nahi mujhko hota hai! How hard is it to understand?" Taani said dejected.
"Was checking. Still allergic!" Rey burst out laughing followed by others.
The waiter brought their orders. Sharon picked a glass and held it in front of Taani.
"Iss baat pe ek toh banta hai!" She coaxed her.
"Shar." Rey reprimanded.
"What? Deep down she wants to. I'm just voicing her thoughts."
"Leave that job to her. Please?" Rey said firmly.
Taani was thankful of Rey. She didn't know how to say no to Sharon without sounding rude. Even though what Sharon said was true, Taani didn't want her first drinking experience to be this. She always wanted to share this experience with her partner, preferably on a romantic date. The thought of a date with Rey made her blush. She was thankful for the dim lights that hid this blush from everyone.
"Arre yaar, dusri side se jaana chahiye tha. Abhi poora ghoom ke jaana padega." Taani sighed.
She was coming back to their table from the washroom and ended up on the opposite side of the dance floor, by the bar. Now she had two options. Either go through the dance floor and possibly bump into someone or to go around it. She chose the latter. She was passing by the bar when a well-built man blocked her path. He stood right in front of her. She took a step back to maintain a decent distance between the two.
"Hello luv, wanna join me for a drink?" He smiled down at her and gestured at the bar.
"Sorry, I don't drink." Taani replied curtly and moved past him.
"Hey." He stopped her again. "If not a drink, then a dance?" He forwarded his hand.
"I'm actually with a friend and I need to get back." Taani replied politely. She didn't want to create a scene.
"I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I steal a dance." He was persistent.
"Sorry. Excuse me." Taani made her way past him. In her peripheral vision, she saw him follow her. She quickened her pace.
...
"Taani kahan hai?" Rey asked Sharon when he didn't see Taani along with her.
"She left before us. We had to go back as Miss Purvi here had left her phone at the sink." Sharon explained.
"Shar, Taani kahan hai?" Rey was persistent.
"I don't know. She should have been here by now."
"Shar, if you're playing a prank then congrats, you got me. I am worried. Now, where is she?"
"I swear she left before us." Sharon was worried now.
"Guys, calm down. Voh rahi Taani." Swayam pointed at the direction from where she was approaching them.
"Kya hua? Aise baar baar peeche kyun dekh rahi ho?" Rey asked when he saw her glancing back every few seconds.
"I guess, I lost the way." Taani answered.
"Kya?" He was confused.
"You asked na ki main kahan thi?"
"No, I didn't."
"Taani, bina piye chad gayi?" Arjun joked.
"Shut up!" She scoffed and sat down.
They got back to talking but Taani was aware of that man's eyes on their table. She wanted to inform Rey but was scared for his reaction. What if he misunderstood her or worse went in for a fight with that man? She tried to focus on what they were talking.
"Washroom mein phone leke jaane ki kya jarurat thi?" Arjun asked Purvi.
"Agar main ghum ho jaati toh tumhe bulane ke liye mujhe phone karna padta na." She said innocently and he nearly slapped his forehead.
"Yeh talli hone ke baad full character ban jaati hai yaar." Sharon giggled.
"Tu toh sober mein hi ek character hai." Rey said nonchalantly while sipping his drink and earned a smack on his head from her. "Ouch!"
"Tum baar baar wahan kyun dekh rahi ho?" Swayam asked Taani when he caught her glancing towards the dance floor.
"Maybe she wants to dance." Sharon said and her face instantly lit up at the thought of it. "Swayam, chal na, let's go!"
"Mood nahi hai yaar."
"Sober you is such a bore!" She huffed.
"Forget him luv. Come dance with me."
Taani's eyed widened when she saw the same man at their table with his hand out and a smirk playing on his lips.
"OMG!" Sharon ran up to him and hugged him tight.
Taani's expression changed from shock to confusion when she saw them walking to the dance floor. They were dancing pretty much like everyone on the dance floor except his eyes had a challenging look which was totally evident. He pulled Sharon to him and smirked at them.
"Abh yeh jyada ho raha hai!" Swayam got up furiously.
"Dude, that was completely your fault. You provoked her. He learnt that and swept her away." Rey said suppressing his laugh.
Swayam didn't answer but moved to where Sharon was dancing with that man. Taani looked intently as she feared that a fight was about to start. Swayam walked up to him and tapped on his shoulder. The man parted from her after giving her a kiss on her forehead. Taani then looked at Rey who was smiling at that man.
"Aap call karke kabhi nahi aaoge na?" Rey spoke as he came to the table again.
"Never!" He replied and they hugged.
"You two know each other?" Taani was confused.
"Of course, luv. Why did you think I hit on you?" He winked at her.
"You hit on her?" It was Rey's turn to be surprised.
"Abhi se possessive? Not bad." He smirked at Rey. "But please haan Majnu 2.0 mat ban jaana. Ek kaafi hai." He pointed at Swayam.
"I swear!" Rey chuckled.
"Mind introducing us?" He looked at Taani, Arjun and Purvi who were staring at them.
"Yes, of course. This is Taani."
"Yeah, I figured her out as soon as I saw you two." He interrupted Rey.
"These are her friends, Arjun and Purvi. And guys this is my bhai, Armaan Mallik." Rey introduced them.
"Oh." Taani smiled awkwardly at him.
"Hi, heard a lot about you." Arjun greeted him.
"Really?" He looked at Rey and then Taani.
"Nahi yeh dono ne kuch nahi bataya. Office mein bohot suna hai." Arjun explained.
"Office? I thought you guys were still in college." Armaan knotted his brows in confusion.
"Bhai, long story. Not the time." Rey intervened.
"Kyun? Pol khul jayegi?" Arjun taunted.
Rey and Armaan looked at him in confusion while Taani stood there in shock. She hoped that he didn't say anything else.
"Arjun, Purvi wants to dance with you." She looked at Purvi and pleaded her.
"Yes. I want to." Purvi's agreed.
"What did he mean to say?" Rey asked once they left.
"I have no idea." Taani replied dismissing the topic.
"So, now that you know me, can I have a dance?" Armaan forwarded his hand to her.
Taani looked at Rey unsure. She had just met Armaan. Her nervous energy had still not settled.
"Usse kya dekh rahi ho? As I told you, he won't mind. Now, will you Rey?" He smirked at Rey.
"Actually, I will. You don't get to steal my girlfriend." Rey held Taani's hand and got up. Taani was furiously blushing at his claim.
"Main yahan akela kya karu?" Armaan made a sad face.
"There are a lot of pretty faces around. Suit yourself." Rey smiled at him and walked Taani to the dance floor.
...
"I like this song." Taani said dancing to the tunes of the song.
"You're quite the dancer luv." Rey praised her.
"And you've got some amazing moves yourself." Taani complimented him as he twirled her and made her follow his lead.
"Thank you, milady." He said placing his hand on his heart.
"You're most welcome." Taani gave him a heartwarming smile.
"Since you are happily dancing with me, can I assume that you didn't mind me pulling you to the dance floor?" Rey gave her a lopsided smile.
"I didn't. But, you could have asked. Main naa nahi bolti." Taani replied playfully.
"Next time yaad rakhunga."
"So, there will be a next time?"
"Of course, luv!"
"Yeh luv luv kya laga rakha hai?"
"Nahi pasand?"
She shook her head in negation.
"Okay luv, I won't say luv anymore." Rey said with a mischievous grin.
"Rey!" She hit him playfully on his chest and straightened herself the very next second.
"Do you really enjoy jab main tumhe batata hoon how not to behave around me?" She nodded no. "Toh aise conscious kyun hojati ho yaar? Abhi accha khasa mazak kar rahi thi aur abh aise awkwardly khadi ho."
"Sorry." She said softly.
"Abh yeh sorry kyun?"
"Pata nahi." She looked down embarrassed.
"Pagal." He hugged her. "Abh awkward mat hojana, tumhi ne green signal diya hai."
Suddenly the music stopped and everyone started complaining.
"Sorry guys." A voice said on the microphone.
"Bhai?" Rey was surprised.
"Sorry for the disturbance." Armaan continued over the mic. "But, I want to dedicate this next song to my brother who has finally found his girl." The crowd cheered. "Don't lose her li'l brother!"
'Arre ladki beautiful
Kar gayi Chull...'
"Nice song he's chosen." Taani said hiding her blush at the implication of the song.
"Only trust bhai to do this." Rey chuckled.
"He seems to really love you." She smiled.
"Oh, he does and so will.." He stopped.
"Abh jo tum khudko filter kar rahe ho, that's fair?" She pouted.
"No, it isn't. Par jo main kehta voh bohot arrogant sound karta."
"Let me be the one to decide that."
"Toh main bata doon?"
"Haan."
"Pakka?"
"Haan!"
"Tum pakka judge nahi karogi?"
"I'm no saint to judge." She quoted him.
"Meri billi mujhi pe meow!" He squinted.
"Rey, tum bata rahe ho ya nahi?"
"Abhi toh bilkul nahi bataunga." He faked anger.
"Fine." She scoffed and looked the other way.
"Oh my God, nakhre toh dekho madam ke." He pulled her closer.
"Rey please." She pulled back from him.
"Sorry." He created distance between them, but didn't leave her.
"Abh tumne sorry kyun kahan?" She questioned.
"Cause I made you uncomfortable. Main tumhari tarah faltu ka sorry nahi bolta." He taunted by the end.
"Haw! Main faltu ka sorry bolti hoon?"
"Aur nahi toh kya? Mere sorry ke peeche reason tha."
"Accha? Kya reason tha?"
"Abhi toh bataya. You sure you didn't have any drinks?" He knotted his brows.
"I don't drink." She stated.
"Ever? Ya aaj koi vrat hai?" He asked tongue-in-cheek.
"Ever! Also, I don't believe in this vrat system." She pointed out.
"Iska matlab tum mere liye, what is that?" He gave a thought and continued. "Haan, tum mere liye karva chauth ka vrat nahi rakhogi?" He asked sadly.
"You believe in it?" Her heart sank.
"Of course, I do!"
"Oh, I didn't know. I thought you might not." She broke eye contact feeling awkward.
"Tum kitni cute ho." He pulled her cheeks. "I was kidding."
"Matlab tum.."
"No, I don't believe in such traditions."
"Thank god." She sighed.
"Even if I did, I would never force you into something that you don't believe in."
"Thank you." She leaned on to his chest swayed to the music.
"Good morning, luv." Rey greeted Taani over the phone.
"Stop calling me that." She grumbled.
"Kyun? Accha nahi lagta?"
"Bilkul bhi nahi."
"Burai kya hai isme?"
"Kuch acchayi bhi nahi hai!"
"It's such a sweet gesture. Par tumhe kya. Tumhe toh good morning bhi wish karne nahi aata." He sighed dejectedly.
"Are you trying to make me feel bad?" She probed.
"Did it work?" He asked slyly.
"A little." She giggled. "Good morning, by the way."
"Finally! Abh jaake meri morning good hui." He said with glee.
"Rey, tum pagal ho."
"Chalo, finally tum meko samajhne lagi ho."
"Very funny. Waise kya kar rahe ho?"
"Tumse baat."
"Uske alava."
"Sorry luv, I don't like to divide my attention."
"And I don't like liars."
"Maine kya jhoot bola?"
"Background se sabki awaaz aa rahi hai, which means you are not in your room. Toh yeh undivided attention ki toh baat hi mat karo!" She mocked.
"Main apne room mein hi hoon, bas door open hai. Aur awaaz tumhe bhai aur Sharon ki aa rahi hogi. Voh kya hai na dono ko chillane ka bohot shauk hai."
"Your bhai, oh God! He is a big-time flirt. He completely scared me yesterday. Kitni baar mana karne par bhi he kept insisting me for a dance."
"Voh merese reaction nikalna chahate the. You know just like Swayam's."
"Aise?"
"Sorry about that. Kya hai na, I'm surrounded by such shameless characters. Can't really do anything about it."
"Did you just call him shameless?" She asked aghast.
"Abh hai toh hai."
"Waise, tum bhi kuch kam nahi ho." She teased.
"Maine kya kiya hai yaar. In fact, I was such a gentleman to you when we first met. Yaad hai ya bhool gayi?" He defended himself.
"Yaad hai mujhe. And you acted as a gentleman as you didn't have any another choice. Uss raat flirt karte, toh pitt jaate." She giggled.
"Tum maarti meko?"
"Mera pata nahi, but bhai pakka maarte."
"It's funny how you're scared of Armaan bhai and I'm scared of your brother." He confessed.
"Bhai ne kya kiya hai? In fact, voh toh aaj kal yahan hote hi nahi. Abhi do din pehle he's returned from Delhi." Her voice was low.
"Itna miss kar rahi thi usse?"
"Kyun, tum miss nahi karte?"
"Bohot karta hoon yaar. I can't even explain kitna."
"I completely understand." She said fondly.
"Taani?" Shivam called for her.
"Jao tumhare bhai ka bulava aaya hai."
"Yeah, I gotta go warna bhai phir se gussa hojayenge."
"Phir se?"
"He was mad when Purvi and I reached home yesterday."
"Late nights?"
"Yup! He's not used to me being out till late night."
"Taani?" Shivam called again.
"Rey, I have to.." She hesitated to end the call.
"Yeah, I understand. Bye." He sighed.
"I'll call you later?"
"Humare calls toh hote rahenge. You should go spend some time with him."
"Bye." She disconnected the call.
...
"Itni der kyun lag gayi?" Shivam asked as Taani walked out of her room.
"Sorry bhai. Voh bas kuch.. um.. kaam tha." She made an excuse.
"Kar kya rahi thi?" Arjun asked.
"Tu yahan kya kar raha hai?" She questioned him.
"Dekha bhai, meri koi kadar hi nahi hai." He complained and she just rolled her eyes at him.
"Bhai, mumma kahan hai?" Taani asked when she didn't see her mother.
"Voh koi food magazine walon ko photoshoot karna tha. She left an hour ago jab tu so rahi thi."
"Tu itni late tak so rahi thi?" Arjun asked. Taani rarely slept till late hours.
"Abh raat bhar phone ko taadti rahegi toh late tak hi soyegi na." Purvi taunted.
"Shut up, Purvi."
"Kyun tu Rey ke good night message ko raat bhar taad nahi rahi thi?" She teased.
"Tujhe na kal hostel hi drop kar dena chahiye tha." Taani sneered.
"Hostel itna late mujhe enter karne deta toh tu mujhe pakka wahin chod deti." Purvi pouted.
"Haan aur phir hostel wale tujhe permanently nikal dete. Next time a little restraint please."
"Yeh club ka idea tha kiska?" Shivam asked.
"Iske boyfriend ka aur kiska." Arjun answered.
"Rey ka plan uske friends ke saath tha. When I told him that you two wanted to meet him, he asked us to join."
"Tu kuch jyada hi defend nahi kar rahi usse?" Arjun narrowed his eyes at her.
"Aur tu jyada bakwas!" She retorted.
"Defend? What am I missing?" Shivam asked.
"Bhai kuch nahi. Inn logon ko Rey ke baare mein kuch galath fehmi hai." Taani pointed at Arjun and Purvi.
"Bhai just hear me out and then you decide."
"Go ahead." Shivam told Arjun.
"So, first week of office aur hume pata chalta hai ki hume hire karte waqt humse saare details share nahi kiye the. In fact, it was some scheme which was turned into action only because of Rey. Toh obviously uske baare mein thode doubts toh humare mann mein aayenge hi. So, I spoke to Taani about it. Par usse lagta hai ki yeh humari koi misunderstanding hai and she doesn't even want to confront Rey about it." Arjun explained.
"Bhai, this isn't true. Aur Arjun, tu kal Rey se mila na. You still have doubts about him?" Taani was sad on learning that her best friends didn't trust her.
"Haan, main kal uss se mila and I saw that he does care for you. But, you tell me. Can you completely disregard what Naveen told us the other day?"
"Tum uske opinion ke base par apna opinion nahi bana sakte!" Taani replied angrily.
"Taani, tu gussa kyu kar rahi hai?" Shivam asked her.
"Kyunki yeh Rey ke khilaaf kuch galath nahi sunn sakti." Purvi answered.
"Do you absolutely trust Rey?" Shivam asked her calmly.
"Haan bhai, I trust him." She replied instantly.
"Even with whatever that you learnt about him in the office?"
"I.. don't know." She replied softly.
"Then why are you hesitating in talking to him?"
"Kyunki I.. I don't know! What am I supposed to say, bhai? Ki Naveen, jisse for some reason tumse problem hai, told me that you had some ulterior motives by hiring us? Moreover, yeh department Rey ka hai bhi nahi. Toh kaise confront karu main usse?" She asked dejected.
"I know yeh difficult hoga, but you need to talk to him and clear this out. Iska asar tumhari friendship pe ho raha hai." Shivam made her understand.
"Taani, we care for you. Isiliye itna overprotective ho rahe hai." Arjun hugged her.
"I know that you guys care. But you need to trust me." Taani's voice was weak.
"We trust you." Purvi joined in on the hug.
"Yes, we do. It's him that I don't trust." Shivam too hugged her.
"Bhai." She whined breaking the hug.
"Bhai hoon yaar. Itna toh banta hai." He joked. "Aur waise bhi, next week se he'll be under my scrutiny."
"Matlab?" Taani was confused.
"Matlab yeh ki Monday ko meri ek meeting hai SRS mein." Shivam explained.
"You mean for your new software?" Taani asked excitedly.
"Yeah, they are interested in it."
"Oh my God, congrats bhai." She hugged him.
"Calm down, abhi kuch confirm nahi hua hai."
"Hojayega. I'm sure of it!"
...
"Hogayi neend?" Juhi asked as Rey walked down from his room.
"Mere room ka door kisne open rakha tha?" He sneered.
"Teko uthane ka dusra koi option nahi tha." Sharon said mischievously.
"You are such a bitch." He cussed.
"Why thank you!" She chirped.
"Rey, stop fighting and come have your breakfast." Juhi instructed him.
"Aap logon ka hogaya?" He asked.
"Of course! Tera wait karte toh lunch tak bhookha rehna padta!" Armaan taunted.
Rey faked a smile at him and sat to have his breakfast.
"Sharon, chale?" Swayam asked getting up.
"Kahan?" Armaan asked.
"Movie date." Sharon grinned.
"Morning show? Really?" Rannvijay asked.
"Theatre khaali hota hai na Paa. Samjha karo." Rey said cheekily earning glares from both Sharon and Swayam.
"Ohh. I see." Rannvijay gave a knowing look.
"Have fun." Armaan winked at them.
They both left quickly avoiding any further embarrassment.
"Chalo yeh dono line pe aagaye. Rey bhi almost aa hi gaya hai. Tumhara serious hone ka koi plan hai ya nahi?" Rannvijay asked Armaan.
"Mamoo please aap mat shuru hojana. Wahan mom ne mujhe bohot sataya hai iss topic pe. Especially, after his alliance." Armaan pointed at Rey.
"Hey, don't put your blame on me!" Rey protested.
"Waise Armaan, yeh kal meeting kis liye rakhi hai?" Rannvijay asked.
"Mamoo voh last month Delhi ki conference mein ek software engineer se milna hua tha. He has created this new software and if we integrate it into our current one, it'll benefit us a lot." Armaan explained.
"Which company is he from?" Juhi asked.
"Freelancer hai. But, trust me I've checked his past records and he is really good." Armaan praised him.
"Haan toh tum uss se milke deal finalize kardo. Meri kya jarurat hai?"
"Contract pe sign toh aapko hi karna hai na. Toh meeting bhi attend kar hi do. Waise bhi ek-do saal mein aap voluntary retirement le lenge. Tab tak kuch toh kaam kar lo." Armaan said tongue-in-cheek.
"Dekha Paa, sabko pata hai ki aapne kaam karna chod diya hai." Rey joined Armaan.
"Abh mere dono bachche itne hardworking hai toh mujhe kaam karne ki kya jarurat?" Rannvijay defended himself.
"Mamoo, no excuses. You have to be present." Armaan said with finality.
"Okay boss, I'll be there." Rannvijay agreed.
"Rey, waise yeh internship ka kya chakkar hai?" Juhi asked once he was done with breakfast.
"Haan be, graduate bhi nahi huye hai yeh teeno. Chakkar kya hai?" Armaan too enquired.
"Kuch chakkar-vakkar nahi hai. Voh teeno ne apply kiya tha and Manas accepted their application. Simple." Rey explained.
"Doesn't sound simple. Mansi has a track record, she never hires freshers let alone undergrads. Or maybe, she didn't. You did!" Armaan narrowed his eyes at Rey.
"Rey, kya yeh sach hai?" Juhi asked.
"Maa, aapko pata hai meko khud aise favors pasand nahi hai. So why will I do anything like that?" Rey was irritated.
"Easy bro."
"Ninety days internship thi isiliye usne inhe hire kiya hai. You know extra hands on deck." Rey explained.
"Of course, for your 'urgent' works. Right?" Armaan air-quoted urgent.
"Rey, abhi toh Mansi se extra kaam karwana band karo."
"Paa, I swear maine voh karna band kar diya hai."
"Isiliye week mein teen chaar baar uske cabin ke chakkar maarte rehte ho na tum?" Juhi challenged.
"Voh toh main bas hi bolne jata hoon." Rey smiled sheepishly.
"Pagal." Juhi lightly gave a smack on his head. "One day she's going to pounce on you all, mark my words."
"Maa you know her. Dus gaaliyan degi par kaam jarur karegi!"
"Mamoo, yeh banda aapki company dooba ke rahega!" Armaan mocked referring to Rey's working style.
"Itna bura bhi nahi hai mera beta." Rannvijay sided with Rey.
"Did you just take my side?" Rey looked wide eyed at Rannvijay.
"Hard to digest, right?" Rannvijay chuckled.
"Absolutely!"
"Bhai, kal kya entry maari aapne!" Rey chuckled. He was accompanied by Armaan in his room.
"Thank you." Armaan pulled up his collar.
"Itni acchi ki you scared the shit out of Taani!"
"Really?"
"Haan!"
"How?"
"How kya? Aise flirt karne ki kya jarurat thi?"
"Oyee hoyye, care toh dekho." Armaan teased.
"Bhai please."
"Accha baba, sorry. But, how are things going on with her?"
"Going good." He said breaking eye contact.
"What's the matter?" Armaan asked.
"What matter?"
"Tera 'going good' itna convincing nahi laga. Baat kya hai?"
"Meko pata ho toh main kuch batau." Rey shrugged.
"Did you fight with her?"
"No!"
"Did she fight with you?"
"Koi jhagda nahi hua hai bhai."
"Toh hua kya hai? Pankaj Udaas kyun bana hua hai?"
"Chee yaar bhai, aise PJ mat maaro."
"Toh tu bhi seedhe muh bata na. Jyada bhaav mat kha."
"We are going good, in fact great. Par I don't know usko suddenly kya hojata hai. Sometimes she behaves as if.. I don't know.. ekdum se hesitate karne lag jati hai around me. I can't understand if I am at fault or it's something else. Like the other day, we were talking and she said that she dreaded talking to me. As if I'll lash out on her if I don't agree with what she says. It's just so annoying telling her time and again to be herself around me." Rey massaged his forehead to calm himself.
"What about you?" Armaan questioned.
"What about me?" Rey asked confused.
"Do you think twice when she is around you?"
"Maybe sometimes."
"Then are you not hesitant towards her too?" Armaan concluded.
"Main kuch samjha nahi."
"It's been months since you two have been in a relationship. And in these months how many times have you spent quality time with each other?"
"Not much." Rey replied guiltily.
"I'm going to be frank with you." Armaan started. "Based on what little I know about her, she doesn't seem to be the one to take the first step. At least not when she doesn't know the person before her. But, I've known you long enough to say that you can and right now you should take that step. Show her that she can be free around you and talk any rubbish with you by doing the same with her. Get her to be comfortable around you. Agar voh nahi ho pa raha toh set her free. Don't endure this relationship if you both can't be comfortable around each other. And I'm not talking about this artificial comfort. I mean the comfort which allows you to talk, yell, blame, hurt, hug, kiss and love each other without any restraints."
Rey went silent. Armaan had presented him an aspect which he dreaded to even consider. The mere thought of it made him restless. He took a vow to invest more time in his relationship and earn that comfort level with Taani. Losing her could never be an option.
Hello everyone
As promised, I'm back within a month. Actually a week early.
So yayy!
Still busy so next update will also take time.
I'll try to not give you guys time to spam
Coming to the question of the update,
What are your thoughts about their relationship?
Please comment down below
Posted: February 9, 2018
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