"And we are here!" Taani gestured towards her house.
"Why did you shift to Mumbai?" He was in awe seeing the place.
It was a beautiful house surrounded by trees on all sides and enclosed in a white picket fence.
"Too many memories to live with." She smiled lightly. "Chale?"
"Ghar pe koi hai nahi. Lock dikh raha hai." He pointed out.
"Hume kaunsa andar jaana tha."
"You seriously don't want to go in?"
"The house doesn't belong to me. And obviously abhi jo rehte hai unhone kuch changes kiye honge which I don't want to see. I want to remember this house in its past glory."
"So, tell me which tree do we have to dig up?" He asked rubbing his palms.
"We need to climb that one." She pointed at one tree in the front of the house.
"Climb?" His eyes popped out on seeing the huge tree. "How the hell are we supposed to climb it? I don't see any ladder."
"You don't need a ladder. Come I'll show you." Taani moved ahead and slowly started climbing up the trunk.
"I'm fine here."
"As you wish." She continued her ascend.
She reached the first branch and sat on it. She looked down at Rey and smiled seeing his worried face. He kept telling her to be careful. She asked him not to worry and tried opening the lid of the chamber which was drilled into the trunk. She pulled hard on it but it didn't budge. She pulled again and almost lost her balance while doing so.
"Taani neeche aao yaar. Chuck it if it isn't opening." Rey shouted from below.
"I'm fine. Aur itni durr aake I'm not giving up. I want my necklace!" She argued.
"Theek hai. Just be careful up there."
She finally managed to open it. She pulled out a polythene bag from the chamber in which was her necklace.
"Mil gaya!" She gleamed.
Taani positioned herself to climb down but in her ecstasy, she missed a groove on the bark and slipped down. Rey caught her but due to the high fall they both fell to the ground with Taani on top of Rey. She rose up slowly removing her hair which were covering his face. She sat up next to him while he lay flat on the ground.
"You alright?" She asked him.
"I think I broke my back." He answered.
"What?" She shrieked.
"Relax, I didn't." He got up. "But I could have though."
"Idiot! Tumhe yeh mazak lag raha hai?" She started hitting him as he ran away from her.
"Ou ou ou, you're hurting me." He said dodging her hits.
"You deserve it!" She glared at him.
"Okay sorry. Aage se no mazak." He held his ears.
"Good!" She panted.
"Necklace toh batao." He said after catching his breath.
"Here." She gave it to him.
"It's pretty. May I?" He offered to tie it around her neck.
She turned around and moved her hair to one side. Rey took a step ahead and placed the necklace around her neck. Goosebumps erupted through their bodies as his fingers touched her neck but they both maintained a straight face. He tried to secure it, but it was too small for her now.
"I'm choking." She managed to speak.
"It's an actual choker then." He chuckled and held it in front of her.
"I'll never be able to wear it." She was sad.
"We'll figure something out. Abhi kahin chale? I'm famished." He held his stomach.
"Alright." She replied half-heartedly.
"Let's go eat something. Khane ke baad shayad dimaag chale." He persuaded and she nodded.
...
"Why aren't you ordering anything?" Rey asked Taani who sat with a glass of water across from him.
"I'll order later." She looked at the clock behind him and frowned.
"Kiska intezaar ho raha hai?" He asked with a lopsided grin.
"Mere ex-boyfriend ka. Will you be interested in meeting him?" She asked extra sweetly.
"Sure, why not? Thode tips le lunga uss se. Kya hai na, I'm having a hard time figuring you out." He smirked.
"Ha ha very funny." She replied sarcastically.
"Waise yeh wale ex ka naam kya hai?"
"Shut up!"
"That's a weird name to have."
"Tum humesha mere ex ke peeche kyun pade rehte ho? Apne baare mein batao. Kaun thi? Or should I ask kitni thi?" It was her turn to smirk.
"Umm.. let me think." He furrowed his eyebrows and started counting. "One.. two.. three.. fou.. yeah, she counts. Four.." He went on.
"Okay stop!"
"Why? Are you jealous?" He wiggled his brows.
"For me to get jealous they still have to be a part of your life, which they are not."
"How can you be so sure? They still can be a part of my life."
"But not your love life!"
"Itna confidence?"
"No. Trust." She looked into his eyes and she could see the surprise in them. He was clearly not expecting this answer from her.
"Thanks." He didn't know how to respond to her.
"Also, I'm sorry." He said making her furrow her brows.
"For?"
"Yesterday. I've been wanting to apologize since morning, par samajh nahi aa raha tha ki kaise bolu."
"Par kyun?" She was confused.
"For unknowingly wishing you before your papa. Aur kal unki baatein sunne ke baad I felt really guilty for doing that."
She let out a laugh hearing his innocent apology.
"Kya hua?"
"Papa was never the one to wish me first."
"Toh voh message?"
"That was his way of saying ki main bhi baara baje wish kar sakta hoon. He used to always sleep by eleven aur next day mujhe wish karte the jab baaki sab kar chuke hote the." A smile formed on her face thinking about her father.
"If you don't mind me asking.." Rey was interrupted before he could finish his question.
"Unko cancer hua tha which went undetected for a long time. And when he reached the last stage tabhi detect hua. But it was too late. Doctor ne toh bas ek mahina bola tha. But his will power was so strong that he survived it till three months and then his organs gave in."
"You were lucky that you got to spend his last days with him." Even though he had a smile on his lips, his eyes had a faraway look.
"Kiske baare mein soch rahe ho?" Taani asked him.
"It's nothing." He tried to brush it off.
"You can talk to me." She placed her hand on his.
"Billy uncle. Bhai's dad." He spoke. "I was five when he passed away in a car accident. Par aaj tak voh bhai ki kahi baat nahi bhool paya hoon. Uncle kisi kaam se bahar gaye the aur bhai ki unke saath kuch behes huyi thi. While coming home he met with an accident. When the news reached us, bhai just wished that he hadn't fought with him when they last spoke and had got one chance to say goodbye." He had a pained look.
"I'm sure uncle knows and is proud of him now." Taani squeezed his hand.
"Main bhi kitna pagal hoon. Birthday ke din yeh sab." Rey took a deep breath to clear his head.
"Toh kya baatein karni hai?" Taani asked.
"Umm.. let's start with that guy who is gawking at us." He pointed to his right where someone was staring at them.
"Raghav!" She looked at her left and screamed instantly on recognizing him.
"Tannu!" He ran towards her and hugged her. "Tu yahan? Kab? Kaise?"
"Bas tujhse milne ka mann kiya toh aagayi." She grinned.
"Such a liar." He squinted.
"Sia aur Juno kahan hai?"
"Sia nahi, Pushpa madam bolo. She is the owner here."
"What? Yeh kab hua?"
"Abhi recently. Yahan kaam kiya aur phir uss sadu boss ke paison se ussi se cafe khareed liya." He chuckled.
"Aur Juno?"
"Juno toh gham mein dooba hai ki ek din tum wapas aaogi. He is gonna be real upset now." He gestured towards Rey.
"Rey, this is Raghav my school friend. And Raghav this is Rey my.."
"Boyfriend." Raghav completed for her. "Bachchi badi ho gayi." He teased.
"Tu batayega ki voh kidar hai?" Taani asked controlling herself from blushing under Rey's gaze.
"Dono aa hi rahe the.. there they are!" He pointed towards the entrance.
"Tannu!" Sia ran and hugged Taani.
"Excuse me? May I?" He pulled them apart.
"Of course, Juno." She hugged him.
"Tum logon ka emotional get-together hogaya ho toh inse mil le." Raghav pointed at Rey.
"Yeh kaun hai?" Sia asked him.
"Taani please introduce him." Raghav teased her.
"That's Rey, my.. boyfriend." She paused and inhaled deeply to stop herself from blushing. "And that's Sia and Jun.. I mean Arjun." She introduced them.
"Arjun hah?" Rey smirked.
"Not again!" She wailed.
"Main kuch kaha bhi nahi."
"Kehne ki jarurat bhi nahi."
"Umm what?" Arjun (Juno) eyed them.
"Ignore him, Juno!" Taani rolled her eyes at Rey.
"Oh shit!" Sia screamed.
"Tujhe kya hua?" Raghav asked her.
"Aaj ki date kya hai?" She asked him back.
"Tenth of April. Kyun?" He answered.
"F*ck!" Juno cursed as her realized what Sia meant.
"I didn't keep contact with you guys and you all forgot my birthday. Call it even?" Taani bit back her smile.
"Pehle treat de phir sochenge!" Raghav demanded.
"Toh mangao jo bhi mangaana hai. It's on me." She grinned.
"It's my cafe Taani." Sia reminded her.
"Accha hai na, tere liye double treat." Taani winked.
"How long have you been dating for?" Sia asked once their orders were in.
"Four to five months." Rey answered.
"You're five months late Juno. Tabhi Mumbai gaya hota toh aaj scene alag hota." Raghav smirked.
"Tu apni bakwas band kar." He retorted. "He is just kidding." He further told Rey.
"I hope so bro." Rey smiled at him.
"Tum kya karte ho?" Sia asked Rey.
"I'm an architect. I work." Rey answered.
"Week ke beech mein chutti kaise mili?" Raghav asked.
"Boss ko convince kiya. It was hard but he agreed when I told him that it was her birthday and my relationship depended on this leave." Rey bragged. Taani shook her head at his dramatic explanation.
"How sweet of your boss." Sia smiled.
"Said it too soon." Rey held his head as his phone flashed 'Bhai.' "Boss ka phone! I'll just be back." Rey excused himself.
"So.." Sia dragged looking at Taani as soon as Rey left.
"What?" Taani was confused.
"Batayegi ya phir hume hi sab puchna padega?" Sia smirked making Taani blush.
"I met him when I was coming back from college and my car broke down. It was a poorly lit road and he kept me company till bhai arrived." Taani smiled warmly reminiscing that night.
"Sounds too filmy to be true." Raghav squinted his eyes at her.
"Chod na Raghav. Abh yeh hume uski life ka hissa hi nahi maanti toh kyun batayegi kuch." Sia faked anger.
"Tumhe agar yeh jhoot lag raha hai na toh ussi se puch lena when he comes back." Taani huffed.
"Waise, how is he? Not the shakki type na?" Juno asked cautiously.
"Aise kyun puch rahe ho?" Taani asked him back.
"Nahi voh thodi der pehle yeh Raghav bakwas kiye ja raha tha na hum dono ko leke. So, I just wanted to be sure ki voh kuch galath matlab na nikal le." He smiled nervously.
"Juno!" She pulled his cheeks. "Tu itna kyun sochta hai? Usne kuch galath matlab nahi nikala hai. And you guys didn't notice but jab maine tumhe introduce kiya tabhi ussi ne mujhe tumhare naam pe tease kiya tha." She giggled.
"Par voh aisa kyun karega?" Juno squinted.
"I have a friend back in Mumbai whose name is also Arjun. Aur ek baar masti masti mein I had called him my ex." Taani giggled.
"You're lucky to find him." Sia smiled. "And I'm sure he loves you a lot. Warna birthday pe yahan nahi laata tujhe and that too by taking a leave."
"Love?" She wondered in the back of her mind and just smiled at Sia.
...
"Haan bhai bolo." Rey answered the call.
"Tu skype pe answer kyun nahi kar raha hai?"
"Main office mein nahi hoon. Kya kaam tha?"
"Kab tak wapas aa raha hai?"
"Kal."
"Where the hell are you?"
"Taani ka birthday hai. Uske saath bahar aaya hoon."
"Kahan leke gaya hai usse?" Armaan teased.
"Jodhpur."
"Jodhpur?"
"Long story. Fursat mein kabhi batata hoon."
"Okay. I'll call Swayam then. Bye."
"Ruko!" Rey shouted into the phone.
"Kya hua?" Armaan frowned.
"Muski ki awaaz hai?" Rey asked.
"Haan, abhi ghar pe hoon main."
"Give her the phone." Armaan passed the line to Muskaan.
"Hello sissy." Rey grinned.
"Muski was fine. No sissy!" Muskaan glared.
"Tum ladkiyon ko nicknames pasand kyun nahi aate?" He frowned.
"Taani ko kya pasand nahi aaya?" She teased.
"Hai kuch. But that's not what I wanted to talk about."
"Toh kya baat karni hai tujhe?"
"Sorry bolna tha."
"Kis cheez ke liye? Mujhse mile zamaana ho gaya hai iss liye ya phir since I've been pregnant tumne mere health ke baare mein mujhse ek baar bhi nahi poocha ya.."
"Tumhe Rahul se durr rakhne ke liye." He stopped her from rambling.
"Itne saalon baad kyun?" She smiled.
"Bas aaj actual mein realise hua ki tumpe kya beeti thi uss waqt."
"Let bygones.."
"Be bygones. I know" He completed her sentence. "I just wanted you to know that it wasn't right of us to do that. Also Rahul, usse bhi sorry bolna hai mujhe."
"Don't even think of it!" She warned him.
"Kyun?"
"Dekh mere paas abhi yahin ek cheez hai usse blackmail karne ke liye. You're not ruining it!"
"Blackmail?"
"Yeah." She giggled. "You see aaj kal mujhe bohot cravings hote hai. And if he doesn't fulfill them toh main chalu hojati hoon usse yaad dilane ki even when you two didn't approve of him I stood by him as I loved him. Aur kya voh mere liye itna nahi kar sakta? Phir usse meri baat maanani hi padti hai." She laughed more.
"Bechaara mera jeeju. Kaisi bewi mili hai usse." Rey showed pity for him.
"Bohot acchi mili hai!" She retorted.
"Muskaan mera phone. Nikalna hai mujhe." Armaan called out for her.
"Aaj toh ghar pe rehne wala tha na? Abh kyun jana hai?" She frowned at Armaan.
"Phone degi?"
"Rey, tujhse baadmein baat karti hoon. Pehle tere bhai se nipat loon."
"Enjoy!" He chuckled and disconnected the call.
Just as he headed in, he received a text message.
"Reached Jodhpur. In The Filos Cafe next to the airport."
"I'll be there. See you soon." He texted back.
"All okay?" Taani asked as he returned back.
"Yeah, boss ne kuch kaam bheja hai. You don't mind if I leave for an hour or two, right?" He asked.
"No, I won't. Waise bhi mujhe inse mile zamaana ho gaya hai, so we'll get time to catch up." She smiled at him.
"Thanks, luv. I'll be back soon." He said with a cheeky grin annoying her.
"Luv! Kya baat hai!" Juno teased her which she ignored and fished her phone out.
"Is everything all right? Aur Armaan bhai ka call tha na?" Taani texted Rey.
"Haan. Aur jab maine bataya ki Jodhpur mein hoon toh unhe mojari chappal ki yaad aagayi. Toh wahin lene ja raha hoon." He replied back.
"I could have come with you."
"I thought you would like to spend some time with your friends. I'm sure they are interested to know more about me from you ;)"
"Thanks, bohot tareef karene wali hoon main tumhari :P Agar kuch help chahiye ho toh call kar lena."
"Sure. Bye."
"Before you guys decide to irritate the crap out of me, you must know ki humara roka hua hai aur uska rishta aaya tha mere liye. It's not what you guys think it is." Taani said seeing their teasing looks towards her.
"Bola tha na ki voh andheri sadak akeli ladki sounded too filmy." Raghav challenged.
"Chup kar Raghav. Aur tu poori story bata." Sia demanded and Taani narrated her story so far with Rey.
"Finally, you're here!" She hugged Rey as soon as he entered the cafe.
"Sorry for calling you here. But, I couldn't come to London again. It was easier last week to come from New York." He explained.
"I know Rey, relax!" She smiled at him.
"So, what did you want to talk about?"
"Us!" She sighed. ""I'm really confused as to what to do."
"Give me some time. I'll sort things out. Then all will be fine."
"Can you?"
"Trust me, I will. I just need some time."
"One month is all I have. Else I'm aborting it."
"Calm down woman. I'll handle everything." He squeezed her hand which was on the table.
"Thanks a ton."
"Now cheer up and eat something. What time is your flight back to London?"
"I'm going to Delhi for a conference."
"By road?"
"Yeah, they've booked a car for me."
"Cool then."
"And when are you going back home?" She asked him.
"Tomorrow. There's no flight in the evening."
He dropped her off to the car which was sent for her and then went in search of mojari chappals to cover up his lie.
"Tum yahi pe ruki ho?" Rey asked entering the hotel lobby where they were supposed to stay for the night.
"Upar jaake kya karti?" Taani shrugged.
"Humne hi rok rakha tha. Pata nahi upar kuch surprise plan karke rakha ho tumne jo hume nahi dekhna chahiye." Raghav smirked.
"Then it's a good thing that you guys didn't go up to the room." Rey smirked back.
"Chalo phir hum nikalte hai. We don't want to waste more of your time." Juno winked.
"Theek hai then. Bye. It was nice meeting you." Rey walked them off to the hotel gate and then went up to their room followed by Taani.
"Kya bakwas kar rahe the tum neeche?" She burst out on him as soon as they were inside their hotel room.
"Maine kya kiya? Voh toh your friend and strangely your ex suggested that." He said with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"He is not my ex!" She huffed.
"Main soch raha hoon, apna naam change karke Arjun rakhu."
"Kyun tumhe mera ex banna hai?"
"Matlab tum maanti ho?" He grinned when she got tangled in her own words.
"Go away!" She whined and sat down on the bed.
"Pehle apna gift toh lelo." He pulled out a box from his pocket.
"Gift? You're spoiling me." She took it from him and opened it.
"Kaisa laga?" He asked seeing her shocked face.
"When? And how?" She was unable to form a sentence.
"Bhai ki chappal le raha tha tabhi ek jewelry shop dekha toh idea aaya. I went in and asked is they could covert the necklace into a bracelet without spoiling its design. They did it!" He grinned.
"Thank you so much!" She hugged him.
"You're most welcome luv!" He hugged her back.
Hello everyone
I know I'm late but this was a long chapter to write and post hence in two posts.
Also with LASIK done it was even more difficult to sit for long hours and finish it.
Finally managed to complete and edit it.
Question of the update:
How many of you knew that April 10 is supposed to be Taani's birthday?
Please comment down below
Posted: April 9, 2018
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