Taarey SS: Finding yourself prt 4-- pg 18 - Page 12

The next say at college passed as any regular day. But once college was over, and Taani left to go to 'Aashayein' the gang followed her. They tried to stay out of her sight and were successful up until they reached the gate of the school. Taani had already entered and was walking towards the main building, while the gang were quietly following her. While walking, Nil accidentally nudged Vicky, as all of them were huddled together.

V: Ay, tune mujhe push kyun kiya

Nil: Hey, dude, it was by accident

Sh: Guys, ssshhh

V: Sharon, tum mujhe kyun bol rahi ho, iss Nil ko bolo, mujhe push kare jaa raha hai

Nil: Ay, maine bola na glatim se ho gaya

V (getting angry): Main bhi galti karun kya

And Vicky pushed Nil, this led to Vicky and Nil getting into a pushing match, and the gang were trying to get them to calm down, but it was too late, as Taani already noticed he commotion behind her and turned around.

T (stunned) Aap sab yahaan? Aap yahaan kya kar rahe hain?

The gang froze and looked at each other and then looked back at Taani.

V: Woh..

Sh: Hum yeh school dekhne aaye hain

Si: Right, the notice board said the volunteering was open for everyone

Bh: Haan toh hum bhi yahaan vol..volu..volu

Aas: Volunteer types karne aaye hain

A: Light (Right)

R: Yah, it's such a good thing to do, aur hume bhi karna chahiye hai. Aur tum yahaan volunteer karti ho toh..

Taani looked towards Rey and smiled, and both of them were caught in an eye lock. The gang cleared their throats to snap them out. They both snapped out and looked here and there to hide their embarrassment.

K (walking up to Taani from behind her): TAANI!! (Reaches Taani) Taani, tum aagayi? Main kabse tumhara wait kar raha hoon. (notices the gang and looks towards them) Im sorry, you all are?

T: Umm Karan, these are my friends, yeh sab bhi St Louis se hain. (Introduces everyone) This is Sharon, Neha, Aashi, Simi, Rini, Amar, Bharat, Vicky, Nilesh, Bhai, um I mean Swayam, sorry and this is Rey. And guys this is Karan, he's one of the administrators here.

Gang: Hey.

All the boys look at Karan from head to toe sizing him up, especially Rey.

V (whispering to Rey and the boys): Rey, yeh toh kaafi handsome hai yaar, kahin Taani tere haath se na nikal jaaye.

Rey glares at Vicky and elbows him in the stomach.

R: Shut up!

Sw: yah chup kar Vicky, Rey, you don't worry, Taani loves you, and you know that.

K: So you guys have come to volunteer?

Sh: Yah, Taani set a really good example for us

T (stunned) I did?

Sharon looks towards the girls.

Girls: Yah, of course you did Taani.

K (with awe in his voice and looking at Taani with love) you should see her with the kids, she is amazing.

Rey glares at Karan with jealousy.

Nil (whispering): Yaar, yeh Taani ko itne pyaar se kyun dekh raha hai

Bh (whispering): Haan aur baat bhi itne pyaar se kar raha hai

V: I'm telling you Rey, you have some competition dude

Nil: Right dude, mujhe bhi lagta hai

Rey looks at the boys and looks at Karan, even he was thinking the same thing.

R (thinking): Waise yeh meri Taani ke saath kuch zyaada hi pyaar se behave kar raha hai

Rey steps forward, and interrupts the conversation the girls were having with Karan to get Taani away from Karan.

R: Taani, tum hume school nahin dikhaogi?

The boys understood what Rey was doing, so they all step forward to support him.

Boys: haan, hume school toh dikhao.

T: yah of course, chaliye nah.

Taani and Karan start leading the gang towards one building, when Shreya comes running up to them.

Shr (breathless): Taani Di, Taani Di

T (bends down to her): Kya hua Shreya

Shr: Taani Di, woh Rahul

T (worried) Kya hua Rahul ko

Shr: Woh aaj aap late aayi hai na, toh woh bahot gusse mein tha, aur ab woh upar char gaya hai aur neeche nahin aaraha

All the gang look at each other confused.

T: kahaan char gaya?

Shr (pulls her hand): Aap bas chalo mere saath.

Shreya pulls Taani, and Taani follows her, followed by Karan and the gang. Shreya leads them all to a part of the playground, where all the children are gathered and they are all looking upwards. Taani, Karan and the gang follow the children's gaze and see Rahul sitting on a very high tree branch.

K: Oh my God, yeh upar kaise chara

All the children were shouting for Rahul to come down, but Rahul pays no attention to them, but is searching here and there looking for Taani. He finally spots her and shouts towards her.

Ra: Finally mere liye time mil gaya tumko

Everyone stops what they were doing and look towards Taani. Taani steps forward.

T: I'm really sorry I'm late, woh kuch kaam aagaya tha iss liye, sorry

Ra: Haan, haan saare kaam mujhse zyada zaroori hai, haina?

T: Nahin boyfriend, aisa bilkul nahin hai

The gang get surprised and all look towards Taani then at each other 'Boyfriend?' They all say in union.

T: Acha baba (holds her ears) Kaan pakde, sorry, aage se late nahin hongi, ab toh maaf kardo (puts on a puppy do face) pleaseee

Ra (folds his arms across his chest and looks away): No, Im not talking to you

T: Sorry, nah boyfriend, I promise main phir late nahin hoongi, aur pura din tumhare saath spend karungi

V (whispering to Rey): Ek aur competition

Rey just glares at Vicky to shut him up.

T (continuing): Please maaf kardo

Ra: Theek hai theek hai, soctha hoon

T: OK, par neeche aake socho, chalo wahaan se utaro

Ra: OK, par main neeche kaise aaon? Jump karoon kya?

Everyone: NO!!

T: nahin, tum ruko, hum kuch sochte hain. Bas tum hilna mat, bilkul bhi nahin, zara sa bhi nahin

Ra: OK

Taani turns towards Karan and the gang.

T: Rey, Bhai, Karan, guys, please aap Rahul ko neeche utariye nah kisi tarah

V: Hum use aise hi utar lete hain na,

Sw: Nahin, we won't be able to reach him, the branch is too high.

R: Swayam's right. Karan, you must have a ladder or something here

K: Yah we do, I'll just get it

R: Great, Amar, tu jaake Karan ke saath ladder le aa

Karan and Amar go off to get the ladder. Rey steps towards Taani, who was just looking at Rahul, and puts his hand on her back as a way to support her. She turns towards him and faces Rey. Rey could see the clear worry in her eyes. Rey takes his other hand and places it on her cheek.

R (whispers to her): Don't worry; we'll get Rahul down (smiles) OK?

Taani nods and just hugs him; he gets surprised for a second but hugs her back nonetheless. She breaks apart from him.

R: not that I mind, but yeh kis liye tha?