"All the best bhai!"
Taani hugged Shivam and got out of the car. She was late for work so she quickly made her way in. Shivam got out and locked his car. Just as he turned to head in, he heard continuous honking of a car and turned around to see who the source of the noise was. He saw Rey in the driver's seat and in front of the car was some woman mocking Rey.
"Manas, that's my spot!" Rey shouted at her.
"Too bad you're late!" She smirked at him and went in.
He parked a little ahead and went over to her car. He squatted down and drained one tyre of all the air. He straightened up and smiled with content at his accomplishment. Shivam covered his mouth to stop himself from laughing out loud. The look of satisfaction on Rey's face was hard to miss. Shivam went in and was guided to the meeting room by Zenia.
"Good morning." Shivam greeted as he walked into the meeting room.
"Good morning. Have a seat." Armaan motioned him to sit. "Mamoo this is the guy I was telling you about, Shivam Raichand." Armaan introduced him to Rannvijay.
Rannvijay nodded acknowledging him. The meeting started and Shivam pitched the software to them. After a fair bit of negotiating, he was successful in cracking the deal.
"Thank you." He didn't address Rannvijay for not being sure to call him sir or uncle.
"You're welcome son." Rannvijay shook hands with him. "And Armaan get the contract papers ready also guide him so that he can start his work." He instructed Armaan.
"I'll get them ready and appoint Swayam to guide him through."
"Appoint Rey instead." Rannvijay smirked.
Armaan knotted his brows in confusion.
"You don't know, do you?" Rannvijay frowned.
"What?" Armaan was confused.
"I think he is referring to my relation with Rey. I'm Taani's brother." Shivam told Armaan.
"Oh, I see. Phir toh you're definitely working with Rey."
...
"You've never worked with a firm before?" Rey asked Shivam as they got down to work.
"Never."
"Must be interesting working with new people every few months?"
"It definitely is. Har ek firm ka apna working style hota hai and I feel so happy that I don't have to stick with it." He chuckled.
"So how long will this process take?"
"This shouldn't take more than a week. Ek baar system mein install kar liya fir aage ka work is simple."
A knock on the door interrupted them. Kiya peeked in and Rey signaled her to come inside.
"Sir yeh files Mansi ma'am ne bheji hai. No errors in them." Kiya informed him.
"Thanks." He placed them aside. "Anything else?" He asked her when she didn't leave.
"Yes actually." She hesitated to speak and looked at Shivam.
"It's okay. Speak up." Rey asked her to go on.
"Just a heads up. Ma'am has to leave for a meeting in fifteen minutes. So, she might come in raging about her car." Kiya said controlling her giggle.
"You saw that?"
"You weren't very discrete."
"Damn it!" He frowned. "Do one thing, give her my keys and ask her to take my car instead." He gave his cars keys and dismissed her.
"Prank gone too far?" Shivam asked after Kiya left.
"You too?"
"Yeah, I was in the parking lot and that scene was hilarious." He chuckled.
"Thank you!"
"For?"
"Appreciating my creativity."
"Wasn't innovative though." Shivam said tongue-in-cheek leaving Rey with his jaw hanging open.
"Hello." Taani sang as she picked up her phone.
"Wow! Someone's in a good mood." Rey replied.
"Yes, I am." She agreed.
"Any particular reason?"
"Happiness ke peeche reason hona jaruri hai?"
"Jaruri nahi hai par itni happiness ke peeche kuch toh reason hoga hi."
"You guessed it right. Humara ek project art festival mein showcase hone wala hai."
"Humara thoda royal sound nahi karta?" He teased.
"Humara as in mera, Purvi aur Arjun ka."
"Oh, I see." He chuckled.
"Yeah." She giggled.
"Congrats."
"Thank you. I still can't believe it."
"Compliments sunne ho toh seedha bol do. Itna dramatic hone ki kya jarurat hai?" He asked tongue-in-cheek.
"Why are you being mean?" She pouted.
"I am not!"
"Whatever!" She rolled her eyes. "I gotta go. Bohot kaam hai."
"Oh, you can't be serious. I was kidding."
"I know Rey. But I really have to go. Sorry."
"Okay. We can chat later. Bye." He half-heartedly disconnected the call.
"Teko kya hua hai? Muh kyun latka hua hai tera?" Swayam asked Rey.
"Gharpe akele bore hota hai yaar. Maa aur Paa last week Delhi chale gaye. Bhai too left. Aur abh tum dono bhi ja rahe ho." Rey sulked.
"Teko akele rehne se kabse problem hone lag gayi?" Swayam looked at him suspiciously then sighed. "It's Taani. Isn't it?"
"I don't want to talk about that. Not right now."
"Alright, don't sulk. Aur ready hoja. Dinner plan yaad hai na?"
"I'm really not interested yaar."
"Tu yeh sab Sharon ko samjha. Uska plan hai."
"Alright, I'll be there."
"Sharon ka naam lete hi I'll be there?" Swayam squinted.
"Teri Siren se panga lena matlab ek aur headache palna, which I'm in no mood for." Rey sighed.
"Cut her some slack. Waise bhi aaj kal voh Siren mode mein bohot rarely hoti hai." Swayam defended her.
"Ruk kyun gaya? Bol hi de." Rey smirked.
"Sangat ka asar." Swayam said slyly.
"Sangat na pehle bhi same thi. Yeh pyaar ka asar hai mere bhai." Rey patted his back.
"Tere pe pyaar ka ulta asar kyun hua hai?" Swayam asked referring to Taani.
"Pyaar? I don't think we are anywhere close to that."
"Tu abhi tak ready nahi hua?" Sharon shouted at Rey as soon as she entered.
"Dinner pe jaana hai, tea party pe nahi. Abhi se ready hoke kya jhak maru?" Rey retorted.
"Teko ready hona hai. Abhi baal banane start karega toh do ghanta baad jaake tere baal set honge." Sharon scoffed.
"I am seriously not in the mood to fight." Rey slouched on the sofa. "Nor am I in the mood for dinner." He said softly.
"Don't you dare ditch!" Sharon pointed a finger at him.
Rey gave Swayam an 'I told you' look and stared blankly at Sharon.
"Alright, I take it back. Still Siren." Swayam agreed with Rey.
"You guys are so irritating!" Sharon huffed. "And why the hell do you not want to come?" She asked Rey.
"Tum dono jao na. Meko third wheel kyun bana rahe ho?" He complained.
"Then call Taani along." Sharon suggested.
...
"Answer the call Taani." Rey was trying to call Taani but she wasn't answering any of his calls.
"Yaar tum busy ho voh pata hai, par ignore kyun kar rahi ho?" He said looking at her name flashing on the screen.
"It's been a week since we last spoke to each other. Start mein call back nahi karti thi aur abh toh calls ignore karne lag gayi ho. I need to sort this out soon. Kuch bhi karke tumse milna hi hoga!"
Rey had just reached home from office when Sharon called him to inform about dinner plans. His first instinct was to call Taani. He had been trying to talk to her since his talk with Armaan, but she was occupied with her project. At first, he didn't mind the aloofness but since the past week he was noticing some changes in her. She had been ignoring his calls. He was starting to get paranoid thinking about the implications of it. Was she considering calling off their relationship?
...
"Rey!" He snapped out of his trance when Sharon shook him. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I'll go get ready." He went up to his room.
"Isse kya hua?" Sharon looked at Swayam.
"Some issue with Taani."
"He had asked her out?"
"Probably."
"Phir?"
"Iski shakal pe likha hai ki na bola hai usne."
"He seems really affected." Sharon was concerned for Rey.
"I know, par usse iss topic pe koi baat nahi karni." Swayam sighed.
"I feel bad to leave him like this and go. Yahan koi nahi hoga and he isn't going to call and talk to us. Kya kare iska?" Sharon sulked.
"Pata nahi. Hopefully dinner will cheer him up a little."
...
"Why are you so grumpy today?" Sharon locked her arm with Rey's, while Swayam walked in front of them into the restaurant.
"I'm not in the mood to talk. So, please." He replied dryly.
"Dekh, I know ki there is some tension between you and Taani. So, talk to us. We might be able to help you."
"It's nothing yaar. And can you two stop already? Agar iss topic pe baat karni hai toh I'm out of here!" He jerked off her arm and stopped.
"Okay chill, I won't. Abh andar chal. Swayam must have already reached our table." Sharon caught hold of him and dragged him in.
"Rey?" He heard someone call him and stopped.
He turned around and found Taani along with Tanya and Shivam having dinner.
"Oh, hi aunty." He greeted Tanya though his eyes were fixated on Taani.
"Dinner ke liye aaye ho na. Come join us."
"Arre nai aunty it's fine. Waise bhi I'm here with friends." He gestured towards Swayam who was seated a few tables away and Sharon who was with him. "She is Sharon. That's Tanya aunty and you already know Shivam." He introduced them.
"Hi." She greeted them.
"They are no strangers. Let them join as well." Shivam suggested.
"No, it's fine." Rey kept dodging.
"Taani, tum hi bolo. Shayad maan jaaye." Tanya playfully told Taani.
Taani had not uttered a single word since the time Rey stepped into the restaurant. As Rey spoke with Tanya, she could feel his gaze on her. She looked up to see him stare at her and realized the blunder she had made.
"Aunty phir kabhi. Waise bhi you guys are almost done." Sharon intervened when she felt Rey's arm tighten around hers.
"Chalo theek hai." Tanya agreed.
Sharon pulled him along with her to their table. He was still looking at Taani with varied emotions, fury being the most prominent.
...
"I am so sorry. I completely forgot to call you back." Taani said as soon as she answered the call.
"I thought so." Rey shook his head.
"This project is really hectic. I have no time to spare whatsoever."
"Then probably I'm going to get no for an answer."
"Answer for?"
"We were going out for dinner. I was hoping you would join us."
"I really can't. Sorry."
She heard him sigh.
"Rey?" She called out when he didn't speak for a while.
...
"Rey?" Sharon waved her hand to get his attention.
"Tu theek hai?" Swayam asked studying his face which had changed from fury to hurt.
"I told you I shouldn't have come." Rey managed to say.
"Yaar baat kar le na uss se. Kab tak uss baat ko taalega?" Swayam pointed in her direction.
"I don't think that this is the right time. Voh apni family ke saath hai. And you know my temper. I don't want to lose it. Not in front of her mother."
"Okay then simmer down. Tum dono ke beech ka tension saaf dikhayi de raha tha wahan." Sharon warned him.
Rey looked over at Taani and saw her laughing at something that Shivam was telling her. Her eyes met his and her smile disappeared seeing his clenched jaws. She gulped down hard and tried to avert her gaze. Just then she saw him get up.
"I'm sorry guys. I can't." He left.
As he passed her table, she wanted to run behind him, but stopped herself.
"Voh Rey tha na?" Shivam asked looking over to their table to confirm his doubt.
Taani immediately fished out her phone and dialed his number. She could hear it ring and looked over at Sharon who was showing it to her. She disconnected the call dejectedly.
"Is everything alright between the two of you?" Shivam asked her when he witnessed the entire scene.
"I hope so." Taani sighed.
Taani was seated in the back of the car and staring blankly at the passing street lights. Shivam was driving and Tanya sat next to him. They both tried to talk to her but she wasn't telling them anything. Tanya was worried when Shivam informed her that he had hardly seen Rey and Taani interact in the office. She just hoped that they resolved their problem as it was deeply affecting them both.
"Bhai gaadi roko!" Taani screamed suddenly as they got off the sea-link.
"Kya hua?" Shivam asked as he parked the car at the side of the road.
"I think I saw Rey's bike. Aap reverse lenge thoda."
He did as he was told and there it was, Rey's bike parked on the opposite side of the road. She scouted the area near it and saw him sitting at the sea face alone gazing into the dark sea.
"Bhai, aap aur mumma jao. I'll come later." She got out of the car.
Shivam wanted to stop her but Tanya signaled him not to. She knew that Taani would be stressed the entire night if she didn't talk to Rey. Shivam agreed with her. He waited till Taani reached to where Rey was seated and then drove off. Taani quietly sat next to Rey. He looked at her for a brief second and then continued to stare into the oblivion.
"Rey?" Taani spoke after a long span of silence.
"You could have said no. Why did you lie?" He asked still staring into the sea.
"I didn't lie."
"Main bohot busy hoon, kahin bahar jaana afford nahi kar sakti. What was that about?" He asked sarcastically. "Directly mana kar deti. Bol deti ki you are not interested in going out with me!"
"What? Yeh kahan se aaya tumhare dimaag mein?" She snapped back. Then taking a deep breath she composed herself. "The thing is hum teeno sham tak project pe hi kaam kar rahe the. After your call, bhai reminded me about dinner. Tab tak main khud bhool gayi thi. And just after I said no, it felt weird to call you and ask for dinner. So, I thought ki baadmein mil lenge. Mujhe kya pata tha ki hum sab ek hi restaurant mein pahuch jayenge."
"Matlab tumhare already dinner ke plans the?" He looked at her.
"Haan matlab every year hote hai." She broke eye contact.
"As in?" He furrowed his brows.
"Woh actually, aaj papa ka birthday hota hai. So, we all go to his favourite restaurant for dinner." She said softly.
"Damn!" He closed his eyes and rested his head on his hand. "I'm sorry." He peeked at her.
"Huh?"
"When I saw you at the restaurant, I was really hurt that you lied to me as I thought you didn't want to go out with me. And now, after knowing this, I feel awful!" He confessed.
"Please don't. It wasn't your fault." She placed her hand on his.
"It's just ki main bohot dino se try kar raha tha tumse baat karne ko and it wasn't happening. Toh thoda frustrated tha. Aur fir jab tumhe wahan dekha toh I just lost my cool."
"I know. I should have called." Her head hung low.
"It wasn't your fault either." He encircled his arm around her and pulled her to him.
"I'm sorry." They both said together and chuckled.
"Waise tum apne papa ka birthday kaise bhool sakti ho yaar? Very bad." He teased to lighten the mood.
"Bhooli nahi, bas yaad nahi tha." She giggled.
"Har saal aise dinner pe jaate ho tum sab?"
"Haan. Actually, jab hum pehle Mumbai visit karte the tab papa humesha hume ussi restaurant mein le jaate the. So, after shifting here, we go there on his birthday." She had a soft smile playing on her lips.
"Don't you miss him?"
"Everyday. But he always told us to not dwell on the past and carry the happy memories ahead. Toh bas voh karna seekh liya hai."
"That's a pretty good advice."
"It is. Waise tumhe mujhse kya baat karni thi?" She asked and felt his hold tighten on her.
"Voh baad mein bhi ho sakti hai."
"It affected you to this extent. I'm sure kuch important hoga."
"Not anymore." He averted his gaze to the sea.
"Now you're lying." She turned to face him.
"No, I'm not." He faced her.
"Then there is nothing left for us to talk. I'll leave." She removed his hand which was around her and got up.
"Yaar over acting mat karo aur baitho." He made her sit again. "Aur pucho jo puchna hai."
"Mujhe nahi tumhe kuch puchna hai."
"Puchna nahi kuch batana tha."
"Kya?"
"That you shouldn't need to keep defending me in front of your friends. Instead you should know the truth."
...
"Tumhari Rey se baat huyi humari internship ke baare mein?" Arjun asked Taani. They were sitting in the cafeteria during their lunch break.
"Nahi. Voh bhai ke saath kaam kar rahe hai. And I don't want to talk about all this infront of bhai."
"Tu na bas excuses banati reh. Isse better I'll go and have a word with him."
"You won't. I'm warning you."
"Tum dono phir shuru hogaye." Purvi whined.
"He always brings it up." Taani pointed at Arjun.
"Arjun please. Let her talk on her own terms. Force mat kar usse."
"I can't believe ki tu iski side le rahi hai."
"Main kisi ki side nahi le rahi. I too want her to talk to Rey and clear all the misunderstandings, but I don't want to force her to do that. Mansi ma'am aur Rey ka kuch bhi reason raha ho hume hire karne aur baaki sab ke peeche, but it isn't such a huge deal that we fight over it." Purvi played the mediator.
"Thank you." Taani smiled at her.
"The early you sort this the better. And you two might trust him, but I won't untilI know the truth." Arjun left from there.
...
"You heard all that?" Taani's mouth hung open.
"You guys were pretty loud." He joked.
"I'm really sorry. Arjun was just.."
"I know." He stopped her. "I know he is just looking out for you. And trust me I didn't feel bad. In fact, I was happy that even after knowing all this you still decided to defend me. But not anymore."
"Matlab?"
"Matlab yeh ki main agar tumhe sab sach bata doon toh you wouldn't have to keep defending me. Unhe bhi sab bata dena, so that they'll hopefully accept me."
"I don't want to know. It's just voh dono.." She stammered.
"It's okay if you have doubts about me. Usme guilty feel karni waali koi baat nahi hai." He made her look at him and she nodded.
"Tumhe sach mein bura nahi laga?" She asked.
"Laga hai. Par iss baat ka nahi ki you wanted to ask all this to me, instead your hesitation in talking to me has hurt me."
"I was scared." She confessed.
"What do you have to be scared of? Main kya kar dunga tumhe?" He asked impulsively.
"This impulsive nature is what I'm scared of." She replied timidly.
"Oh." He couldn't argue back at that.
"I mean I've seen you get angry and I didn't want to be on the receiving end of that wrath."
"Par baat na karke bhi toh gussa aa sakta hai. Misunderstandings ho sakti hai. Isse better hai ki baat karke sab sort out ho jaye, nahi?"
"Hmn." She agreed. "So, tell me. Why did you hire us? Aur yeh stipend na dene ka reason kya hai?" She asked straightforward.
"Abhi toh tumne kaha ki tumhe nahi janana kuch." He teased.
"Rey!" She whined.
"Okay suno." He began. "Firstly, you should know that I have nothing to do with you getting hired. Like you, even I don't like such favours."
"Tumne toh kaha tha ki agar tumhe pata hota toh tum koi favour karte." Her eyes had mischief in them.
"Aur yeh bhi kaha tha ki voh galath hota." He reminded her.
"Go ahead." She asked him to continue.
"Haan so, as you might have noticed ki humare, as in Sharon, Swayam aur mere side mein bohot se extra projects hote hai jinke interior ke liye we always depend on Manas, I mean Mansi. Pichle do saal hum yahan the nahi toh uska work load kam tha. And now that we have returned, she knew uska work load badhne wala tha, especially with the existing projects and the new school project. Aur iss sab ke beech, tum teeno ke applications uske paas pahuch gaye. So, she hired you all. Mainly for extra hands to get the work done quicker." He explained.
"But jitna maine suna hai, she doesn't hire freshers. Toh abhi kaise?" Taani was confused.
"She was in dire need of helping hands. And you guys had applied for internship, jiske liye thoda manipulation ho sakta tha." A mischievous grin formed on his face.
"Jaise?"
"Jaise, tumhe college ke saath yeh internship karni hai jo ki six months tak chalegi. But if we count your working days, they come to just three months."
"And as per rules three months tak ki internship walon ko koi stipend nahi hai. So matlab help bhi mil rahi hai aur kuch pay bhi nahi karna pad raha. She is smart." Taani concluded with a smirk.
"Not completely true. And please usse judge mat karo. I know uske tareeke different hai, but she isn't wicked or anything." He defended Mansi.
"I didn't mean it that way."
"You said it in that way. Anyways, stipend ka issue itna simple hai nahi. We two had a talk about it, after which we arrived at the conclusion of not paying you guys."
"Three months ke upar pay hai. That's the rule, right?" She furrowed her brows.
"Part of it. The thing is internship ke time ek personal project is compulsory. It can be anything. But, since you guys haven't graduated yet, we can't give you any projects to handle individually. Aur three months ke neeche ki internships ko yeh rule applicable nahi hai."
"Oh." She now understood everything.
"Yeah." He nodded.
"Maine kahan tha ki kuch toh reason jarur hoga, but they didn't want to listen to me." She made faces cursing Arjun and Purvi under her breath.
"What made you defend me?" His question caught her off-guard. "Hmn?"
"I.. think.. because I.. couldn't think of you as that person." She replied nervously.
"What person?"
"Vicious kind of a person."
"Iska matlab your friends think that I'm vicious?" He widened his eyes.
"No, they don't!" She said instantly.
"What if they did? Would their thinking affect yours?" He asked cautiously.
"Now I get it!" She exclaimed.
"What?" He squinted.
"That you were afraid ki Arjun ke baar baar bolne ki wajah se I might have changed my opinion about you. And that I agreed with what they thought."
"Jab baar baar ek hi cheez sunte hai toh voh believable lagne lagti hai. That is human tendency. Aur jab tum mere calls ignore kar rahi thi, I thought ki you changed your mind and maybe wanted to end our relation."
"What? No!" Her eyes widened in shock.
"Yeah and now I feel stupid." He hung his head low.
"You should. I would never end a relationship due to some petty misunderstanding."
He smiled widely at her making her realize what that implicated. She averted her gaze and blushed, well aware of his eyes on her. He pulled her by her waist and hugged her.
"Thanks for coming here."
"I didn't come here for you. I just wanted you to know that I didn't bail out on dinner purposely. Wait dinner. You haven't eaten anything." She broke the hug and looked at him.
"Were you noticing me?" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
"You were sitting right in front of me and staring at me. It was hard not to notice." She replied sarcastically.
"Yeah, not too proud of that." He chuckled.
"Let's go eat something." She suggested.
"Tumhe bhook lagi hai?"
"Nahi."
"Toh?"
"You've skipped dinner. Aren't you hungry?"
"Don't worry about that. Ghar jaake kha lunga."
"Kya Maggi?" She asked tongue-in-cheek.
"Nahi. Sharon ne jo parcel liya hoga mere liye voh."
"How do you know?" She was amused.
"Bachpan se saath hai yaar. We can read each other."
"How come you two didn't fall in love with each other?"
"We do love each other. But, to answer your question, it is difficult to fall in love with your best friend."
"Aren't all three of you best friends? Toh voh dono couple kaise bane?"
"That's a story for another day. Abhi tumhe ghar drop kar du? I still have to work with Shivam aur ek bhai se pange lene mein meko koi interest nahi hai."
"Kha nahi jayenge tumhe." She giggled.
"Jab behen ko protect karne ka time aata hai na tab bhai kuch bhi kar sakta hai."
"Tum pagal ho!"
"Yahan ke sections kyu re-arrange kar diye? Abh main Taani ki chocolates kahan dhundti phiru? Bol dungi usse khud laane. Main bohot thak gayi hoon." Tanya huffed.
Tanya had come to the supermarket for grocery shopping. Taani was supposed to join her but she bailed out last minute saying that she had to work on her project. She was moving to the billing section when her trolley bumped into someone, who winced in pain.
"What the f*ck!" He cussed turning around and his eyes widened in shock.
"Rey? I'm sorry beta. Mera dhyaan nahi tha." Tanya was surprised to see him. He quickly shoved his hand into his pocket on seeing her.
"Koi baat nahi aunty. It's fine." He spoke after composing himself.
"Tum yahan kaise?" She asked him.
"Supermarket mein ghumne aaya hoon." He chuckled.
"Mera matlab tha ki tum shopping karne itni durr kyun aaye ho? Ghar ke paas se kar lete."
"Office ke kaam se iss area mein aaya tha mein. Aur bas ek ready to cook ka packet chahiye tha. Toh socha yahi se leta jau." He explained.
"Aaj ghar pe khana nahi bana hai jo yeh le ja rahe ho?"
"Haan voh Maa aur Paa Delhi gaye huye hai toh ghar pe koi hai nahi. So that's why."
"Par tum toh bana lete ho na kuch toh yeh packed food kyun?"
"Kuch ho toh banau. Grocery shopping karne bhool gaya tha last weekend, toh yeh week kuch na kuch order karke nikaal liya. Aaj order karne ka mann nahi hai toh socha yeh le jau."
"Tum karte ho grocery shopping?" She was stunned.
"Abh akela hota hoon toh karna padta hai." He chuckled at her reaction.
"Par tumhare friends toh next door rehte hai na? Saath dinner nahi karte tum sab?"
"Karte hai par voh dono last Friday Delhi gaye hai. Ghar se bulava aaya tha dono ke."
"Matlab tum last week se aise hi bahar ka khana kha rahe ho?" She scolded him.
"Sirf dinner. Lunch toh khair humesha canteen mein hi hota hai." He smiled warmly at her concern.
"Aur breakfast karte bhi ho ya nahi?" She asked sternly.
"Karta hoon. Aap aise mat dekhiye mujhe." He frowned.
"Good." She giggled seeing his face.
"Aap akele hi aayi thi?"
"Haan voh Taani aur Shivam dono busy the. Toh, aleke hi aana pada."
"Abhi tak busy hi hai?" He asked referring to Taani.
"Voh kabhi kabhi jyada hi involve kar leti hai khudko apne kaam mein." She sighed.
"Waise aapki shopping ho gayi hai ya aur kuch lena hai?"
"Hogayi hai. Main billing ke liye hi ja rahi thi."
"Chaliye phir." He took the trolley from her hands and walked with her.
"Tum ghar kyun nahi chalte dinner ke liye?"
"Okay. But on one condition." He said after thinking. "Agar aap white sauce spaghetti banaye to hi main aaunga."
"Agreed." She smiled at his condition. "Main spaghetti leke aati hoon."
"Aap line mein rukiye, main laata hoon. Wasie bhi mujhe yeh rakhne jana hi hoga." He said referring to the packed food box in his hand.
"Theek hai. Par.."
"Flat noodles. Pata hai." He completed for her.
He moved down the aisle to pick up the noodles when his phone beeped. He inserted his hand in his pocket to remove his phone when he felt a box in it.
"Isse toh bhool hi gaya tha. Kya karun?" He soliloquized. "Ek kaam karta hoon. Iska bill dusre counter se karwake aunty se milta hoon. Yup, that'll be better." He quickly purchased it and moved to where Tanya was waiting for him.
"Aunty yeh bags kahan rakhu?" Rey asked entering the kitchen behind Tanya.
"Yahi counter pe rakh do. Aur tum bahar ruko, main Taani ko awaaz deti hoon." She instructed him.
"Aur meko laga ki aapse seekhne milega." He pouted.
"Oh, isiliye spaghetti banwaani hai mujhse."
"Yup." He grinned. "Maine ek recipe try ki thi. It was awful!" He made a disgusted face.
"Chalo phir sikhati hoon tumhe. Sabse pehle help me keep all this away." She pointed at the shopping bags. After clearing everything, they started preparing dinner.
"Cooking ka shauk kabse hai?" She asked him.
"Itna kuch khaas shauk nahi hai bas kuch dishes banani pasand hai. And since college days akela raha hoon, toh thoda basic khana bana leta hoon."
"Ghar pe koi servants nahi hai?"
"Pehle ek kaka hote the but then he left. Umar hogayi thi unki aur unse kaam karana awkward lagta tha. Abhi cleaning wagera ke liye ek bai hai baki as such koi nahi."
"Mumbai mein bai ka hona toh must hai, nai?" She giggled.
"True." He too joined.
"Paani boil hogaya na? Noodles usme daal do." She instructed him and he followed. She then looked at him as he grated cheese.
"Kya hua? Kya soch rahi hai aap?"
"Yahi ki tum meri kitni help kar rahe ho. Aur wahan voh dono apne room se bahar nikalne ka naam hi nahi le rahe. Yeh bhi nahi ki door ka awaaz aaya toh bahar aake dekhe ki kuch help chahiye ya nahi." She huffed.
"Chodiye na aunty. Abhi main hoon na toh merese apni seva karwayiye."
"Chalo aaj apne hone wale damad ko azma ke dekhti hoon."
"At your service, sasu-maa." He bowed down at her.
...
"Taani, Shivam, chalo dinner ready hogaya hai. Bahar aao." Tanya called them. "Chalo Rey, tum bhi bahar aao."
"Haan bas yeh pie fill karke oven mein daal doon."
"Taani abhi vahan kyun baithi ho? Cooking mein nahi toh at least table set karne mein help kardo." Tanya frowned at Taani. She was slouched on the sofa with her legs propped up on the centre table and her phone in her hand. "Kaise baithi ho tum Taani." She scolded her.
"Mumma do min." Taani said still on her phone.
"Shivam." Tanya called him again.
"Aaya." He said coming out of his room.
"Taani." Tanya gave her a stern look.
"Haan aa rahi hoon." She kept her phone aside.
"Aunty pie daal diya oven mein. Aur kuch nahi tha na?" Rey asked coming out of the kitchen.
Taani almost slipped off the couch on seeing him. She quickly lowered her legs and sat up straight. He chuckled at her reaction.
"Rey, tum yahan?" Shivam asked.
"Maine bulaya usse as tum dono toh bulane se rahe. Bechaara last week se bahar ka khana kha raha hai." Tanya lovingly ran her hand on his head.
"Tumne mom pe kya jaadu kiya hai? Itne pyaar se toh mere sar pe kabhi haath nahi rakha hai unhone." Shivam squinted.
"Jaadu nahi usse charm kehte hai." Rey grinned mischievously.
"Whatever." Shivam say next to him.
"Abhi khadi kyun ho? Baitho." Tanya scolded Taani.
Taani sat opposite to Rey. Rey wiggled his brows at her and she smiled back.
"Spaghetti?" Taani looked at Tanya.
"On special request." Rey winked at her.
"Mumma this is cheating. Main kitne dino se bol rahi thi banane but you didn't listen." She pouted.
"Tum dono bas order karte ho. Yahan Rey ne meri help ki isiliye maine banaya."
"Dono? Maine kuch kaha bhi nahi." Shivam grumbled.
Rey chuckled and Shivam glared back. He quickly composed and started eating. Taani giggled seeing this. After they were done with dinner, Tanya announced that she is getting the pie out of the oven.
"Aunty wait, I'll get it." Rey rushed in before she got up.
"Seekho kuch uss se." Tanya scolded Shivam and Taani.
"Mumma aapne pehle kyun nahi bataya ki Rey aaya hai. Main change kar leti. Itna awkward lag raha hai aise." Taani looked down at herself. She was wearing grey tank top with white and pink striped shorts.
"Roz toh pehenti ho. Abh kya hua?" Tanya asked her back.
Before she could answer, Rey came back out with the pie. They had dessert and Rey earned a lot of praises for his pie. After they were done, they settled in the living room. Rey sat next to Taani, while Shivam and Tanya took separate couches. Taani sneekily placed a cushion on her lap to lessen her discomfort.
"Kal breakfast ke liye aa rahe ho na?" Tanya asked Rey.
"Arre aunty nahi. Abhi ghar jaake phirse subah aane nahi hoga. Plus, I have work." Rey made an excuse.
"Kal office ko chutti hai. Toh kaisa kaam?" Shivam asked him.
"Ghar ka. I have to go grocery shopping. Maa Monday ko aayegi aur ghar pe agar kuch nahi hua toh meri lag jayegi."
"Subah traffic kahan hota hai. Jaldi aa jana aur breakfast karke yahi se shopping kar lena." Taani suggested.
"Thank you. But, I'll manage something."
"Kya maggi?" Taani taunted.
"Tumhe maggi se itni kya problem hai?" He retorted back.
"Ghar pe pehli baar koi aata hai toh usse maggi khilate hai?"
"At least maine banake toh khilaya tha, yahan toh meko hi banana pada."
"Haan toh tabhi tumne mujhse coffee nahi banawayi thi?"
"Tum log kab ki baat kar rahe ho?" Shivam asked them.
"Jab main dinner ke liye iske ghar gayi thi aur baarish ki wajah se wahin rukna pada tha." Taani explained.
"Maine banwayi nahi thi."
"Liar! Tumhi ne kahan tha ki talent dikhao coffee banao." She mocked.
"Rhyme ho raha hai toh maine hi kahan hoga." He chuckled softly.
"What?"
"Offo, tum dono shaant hojao. And Rey I have a solution for you." Tanya silenced their bickering.
"Kya?" He asked.
"Tum yahin ruk jao. Kal chale jana ghar."
"Aise?" He looked at his disheveled self. He had come straight from his office.
"Shivam ka kuch pehen lena." Tanya further added.
"Haan, that'll be better. Itna durr jaake wapas aana nahi padega." Taani agreed with Tanya.
"Aunty main.." Rey was interrupted by Tanya.
"Main kuch nahi sunna chahati. You are staying back and that's final." Tanya ordered him.
"Alright." Rey gave in.
...
"Mere kapde kahan rakhu?" Rey asked Shivam. He had changed into something comfortable.
"Ruko main hanger deta hoon." Shivam gave him a hanger from his cupboard.
Rey hung his pants on the hanger when a box fell from his pocket. His eyes widened and he gulped audibly. Shivam looked from Rey to the packet and then back to Rey.
"Condoms?" Shivam picked it up and handed it to Rey.
"Voh..actually.. the thing is.." Rey was unable to form a coherent sentence.
"Bahar aa jana. Sab wait kar rahe hai." Shivam walked out.
"Shivam wait." Rey tried to stop him but he left.
"Damn!" Rey held his head. "Mere pranks mere pe hi kyun bhaari pad rahe hai? Abh main Shivam ko kaise samjhau ki yeh packet voh dono idiots ko prank karne ke liye liya tha. Beta Rey, teri toh lagne wali hai!"
Keeping his clothes in the cupboard he went out of the room to join others.
Taani woke from her sleep due to continuous noise of machines. She huffed and looked down from the window where underground metro construction was going on. She closed the window to lessen the noise, when she heard something fall and came out of her room. She saw Rey in the kitchen looking down at something and cursing.
"Rey?" She called him.
"Watch out." He immediately shouted making her stop in her track.
"Kya hua?" She cautiously moved to the switch board and turned the lights on.
"Coffee bana raha tha. Cup slip hogaya haath se and gir gaya. Toh please yahan mat aana warna lag jayegi." He picked up the big pieces from the floor and threw them in the bin.
"Main jhadu laati hoon. Ruko." She came back with a broom and cleaned the mess.
"Thanks. Main yahin dhund raha tha."
"Itni raat ko coffee kyun?"
"Do dino se soya nahi hoon barabar se. Abhi neend aa hi rahi thi ki yeh awaaz." He clenched his jaws at the loud construction noise.
"Shit, I'm so sorry. I completely forgot ki tumhe itne shor mein neend nahi aati. I shouldn't have forced you to stay back." She apologized.
"Relax, it's okay."
"No, it isn't. Mujhe yeh construction ka pata tha. Stupid people itni complain karne ke baad bhi raat ko kaam karte hai." She cursed the workers.
"Bola na it's fine. Abhi please meko coffee kahan hai voh nikal ke do na. Bohot sar dukh raha hai."
"You haven't slept for two days aur tumhe coffee chahiye?" She looked sternly at him.
"My head is throbbing."
"Toh chalo I'll massage it. Coffee is not going to help you." She dragged him to the living room.
"Arre par.." He tried to protest.
"Chup chap yahan pe baitho." She silenced him and made him sit on the floor in front of her.
"Aye oil nahi." He got up when he saw her pour some oil in her hand.
"Arre! Baitho yahan pe!" She pulled his hand and made him sit again.
"Oil nahi yaar."
"Kyun?"
"Hairstyle bigad jaati hai yaar." He pouted.
"Shut up and sit!"
"Theek hai par jyada mat lagana."
"Try karungi." She started applying oil and massaging his head.
"Accha lag raha hai." He said with closed eyes.
"Kaha tha na."
"Continue continue." He lowered his head on her lap.
"Oil mujhe kyun laga rahe ho?" She wiped off the oil from her lap.
"Main kahan laga raha hoon." He rubbed his head.
"Rey!" She warned.
"What?" He asked innocently.
"Stop. It's tickling." She giggled and placed her hand below his head to stop him.
"Toh pillow lelo na. Thodi der pehle toh waise hi baithi thi." He looked up at her.
"You noticed?" She asked awkwardly.
"Aye don't stop." He complained when she stopped massaging his head. "And yes I did notice. Par tumhe itna awkward kyun lag raha tha voh nahi samjha."
"The thing is main shorts ghar pe hi pehnti hoon. Bahar I'm not comfortable, so that's why." She explained.
"You should start wearing. It looks good on you." He complimented.
"Thanks, but I'll pass." She smiled.
"Aur batao, how's your project going?" He asked closing his eyes sleepily.
"Almost done. Next week hi showcase hai. Then I'll be free. Aur tumhe pata hai.." She stopped when she heard his light snores. "So gaya? Itne shor mein? He must be really tired. Aur coffee peene chala tha." She scoffed.
She lifted his head from her lap to place a pillow when he stirred a bit. Fearing that he might wake up, she adjusted his head on her lap and leaned back on the couch. Both slept peacefully, Rey with his head on Taani's lap and her fingers threaded in his hair.
Hello everyone
I am back with the update. Sorry for the delay. Had to go out of town for a week and there was no internet connection there.
Anyways, now I'm back.
Just want to clarify that all the parts in brown are like flashbacks. I've tried going back and forth. If it was confusing then do let me know, I'll avoid it from next time.
Coming to the question of the update,
How do you think the relation between Rey and Shivam be from now on?
Please comment down below
Posted: March 12, 2018
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