Part Four
"Ab jab ki hum friends ban gaye hai toh mein tumse kuch pooch sakta hoon?" Rey asks for her permission.
"Yeah sure" Taani smiles at him.
"Yahan nahi..kahin aur chalke baat kare?" he asked.
She nodded yes and Rey led her to the terrace. They took seat on the swing on the terrace and started swinging it lightly. Both were silent for some time.
"Abh poocho jo bhi puchna hai.." she trailed off.
"Kaise poochu.." he was trying to compose.
"Rey jyada socho mat just say it" she said.
He let out a deep breath and started, "Neeche jab mein Mom ke liye sing kar raha tha..tabi..you looked sad, I mean it was a touchy scene but tum bohot udaas si lagi. May I know why?"
Taani stiffened a bit at his question. Rey noticed her reaction and quickly spoke.
"Taani if you aren't comfortable then it's alright. Mein bhi kya tumse itne personal questions puchne baith gaya" he smacked his own head.
She smiled seeing his antiques.
"Kabhi na kabhi toh yeh baat saamne aani hi hai. Toh aaj hi sahi.." she started, "The thing is, aaj mujhe Aunty ko dekh ke apne mom ki bohot yaad aa gayi. I just miss her so much."
"Tumhari mom kaha rehti hai?" he inquired.
Taani smiled at him and looked up at the sky. Rey understood what she meant and immediately felt guilty for starting this topic.
"Sorry" he mouthed.
"Hey don't be, please. Jab mein 10 years ki thi tabhi my mom and dad passed away in an accident. Tabhi se mujhe meri dono maasiyon ne..not really..but ya unhone hi mera khayal rakha hai."
"Matlab?" He got confused.
"Mom ka nature almost tumhari mom jaisa tha..always loving and concerned for all. Aur meri dono maasiya are totally opposite. Sharon aur Simmi humsha ghar aane ke bahane dhundte the so that they won't feel left out. Aur fir Mom ke jaane ke baad I moved in with them."
"Sharon aur Simmi tumhari cousins hai?" he asked.
"Haan" she replied.
"I can totally understand how they must have felt" he said.
"How would you understand?" she was confused now.
"Yahan bhi story kuch aisi hi hai. Swayam aur Nil ke parents humesha out of town hote the. So voh dono yahi rehte the half the time. Unn dono ke parents bas naam ke parents hai. They don't know what their son is doing or how he is. Unke liye toh parenting ka matlab apne bacche tak paisa pahuchana hai." Rey said feeling annoyed.
"I know this really sucks! Meri dono maasiyan bhi wahi karti hai. So we three sisters became each other's support. Hum humesha sab kuch share karte hai ek dusre ke saath.."
"Aur hum teeno toh brothers nahi hai lekin ek dusre ko bohot respect karte hai. It's like we can't live without each other..don't take in the wrong sense" he said making her giggle.
Her giggling reduced and a lone tear escaped her eyes.
"Kya hua?" Rey asked her feeling worried.
"I miss my Mom a lot" saying so she wiped the tear off.
"Next time tumhe jab bhi apni mom ki yaad aaye toh mere paas aa jana" both of them were startled to hear Rajashree's (Rey's Mom) voice from the entrance of the terrace.
Rey got up from the swing and made place for his mom to sit. Taani was left in awe seeing his gesture. His mom came and sat next to Taani, while Rey went behind the swing and stood there close to Rajashree.
"Aunty app..yahan..I mean.." Taani was getting uncomfortable.
Rajashree kept her hand on Taani head, caressing her. Taani hugged her instantly and started crying.
"Shoo..rote nahi" Rajashree was continuously soothing Taani.
"Next time jab bhi tumhara mann kare mujhse milne aa jana" Rajashree said breaking the hug.
"Haan yeh 'Mother India' hai!" Rey commented lightening the tension in the atmosphere.
Rajashree smacked him on his arm.
"Kya maa" Rey complained.
"Yeh kal tumne kaunsi party organize ki hai?" she asked twisting his ears.
"Ouch..aapki birthday party hai" he said biting his tongue inside his mouth.
"Atcha ji, tumhe kya laga mujhe pata nahi kis khushi mein hai yeh party" she said twisting his ears even more.
"Aur jorse" said Swayam entering the scene along with others.
"Abbe saale" Rey glared at Swayam.
"Mom aap please kisiko mat batana" he pleaded her.
"Haan haan theek hai. Tum log baate karo mein neeche jaati hoon" she left his ear and got up and left.
They all chit-chatted for a while and then the three sisters left for home. Rey drove them home.
"Terrace pe dono saath aur uski mom bhi wahan.." teased Sharon.
"And now yahan tak drop bhi karne aa gaya.." Simmi too teased Taani.
"Shut up girls! And go to sleep! Good Night!" Taani replied annoyingly while both started laughing at her reaction.
The next day in office went quite well. Girls helped boys with the office work. All of them got to know each other quite well. At the end of office hours Rey again reminded them to come for the party. They went home freshened up and went to the outhouse of Singhania mansion which was the venue of the party.
There were many people present at the party. The girls entered and all eyes were on them as the others had seen them for the first time. Swayam and Nil came forward to make them feel comfortable. All five were sitting on the couch and talking randomly.
"Rey nahi dikh raha" Taani asked Swayam and Nil.
Swayam and Nil looked at each other and smiled cheekily.
"Kyun? Miss kar rahi ho?" Sharon teased Taani earning a glare from her.
"Rey hoga yahin kahin.." Swayam trailed off when Rey came and stood near them.
"Mujhe bada yaad kiya ja raha hai.." smirked Rey.
"Koi tujhe yaad nahi kar raha. Bas Taani was asking about you" said Nil emphasizing on the word Taani.
Rey looked at Taani.
"Haan..voh..actually..tum dikhe nahi..toh" Taani was finding words to speak.
There was silence for a while. Breaking the silence Sharon spoke.
"Yeh party ki wajah kya hai yeh hume pata chalegi?"
"Haanji jaroor.." saying so Rey went in the centre to make an announcement.
"Hello people..I know aap sab soch rahe honge ki yeh party all of a sudden kyun rakhi gayi hai. Right?"
"Right" the crowd shouted.
"Well isse pehle ki mein batau, Swayam and Nil please jara kasht lo aur idhar aao."
Both of them walked towards him.
"So guys, tum sab toh jaante hi ho ki dance hum teeno ki life mein kya importance rakhta hai. Humne British school of performing art mein apply kiya tha aur hume wahan se scholarship mila hai. We'll be getting to learn dance from them and also we'll be a part of few of their shows."
Everyone present there started hooting. Rey immediately looked at Swayam and Nil. Both of them were totally surprised as well as happy. Rey went towards them and hugged them. All three shared a group hug. All their friends were coming one by one and congratulating them.
"Congrats guys" Taani, Sharon and Simmi said together.
"Thanks" Rey, Swayam and Nil replied.
"I still can't believe they accepted our entries!" exclaimed Nil.
"Tum teeno bohot amazing dancers ho yaar so accept kyun nahi karte" said Simmi.
"This is really great. So tum teeno kab ja rahe ho? Aur yahan office?" Taani asked.
"Office ka yeh special course khatam hone ke baad hi jayenge.." Rey said.
"Aunty ko bataya?" asked Swayam.
"Mom ne kal letter dekh liye. She's damn happy for us" said Rey.
The six of them were celebrating together. Rey, Swayam and Sharon asked Taani, Sharon and Simmi for dance. They danced for a while and then threw themselves on the couch to relax. The party was nearing to end. People had started leaving.
Rey felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around to find a guy standing behind him.
"Hi Rohan" Rey greeted gritting his teeth.
"Isse kisne invitation di?" Nil whispered to Swayam.
"I hope kuch tamasha na khada kare" Swayam whispered back.
"Hi Rey. Congrats man!" said Rohan.
"Thanks" Rey faked a smile.
"So tum aaj bhi vaise hi ho, passionate dancer and a blind friend!"
"Rohan don't create a scene here" Rey warned.
"Oh I'm creating a scene? Mr. Reyansh Singhania mein tumhe sach bata raha hoon."
"Mujhe tumse kuch jaanane ki jarurat nahi hai!"
Taani, Sharon and Simmi were seated dumbfounded observing the scene.
"Jaan lo, jaan lo ki yeh tumhare so called friends kitne matlabi hai. Abh tumne inhe scholarship dilayi hai, inka matlab poora hogaya, toh abh yeh tumhe akela chod ke chale jayenge."
Rey clenched his fist but Rohan continued.
"Inn dono ne tumhara sirf use kiya hai. They knew ki 'Singhania' tag kitna powerful hai. Agar dancer banane ko nahi mila toh iss company mein job toh mil hi jayegi, aur CV mein 'RS Group of Industries' ka naam jud jayye toh inko bohot fayda hai. Aur inn dono ne wahi kiya"
"Rohan one more word from you and I'll forget ki tum kaun ho!"
"Rey sach humesha kadva hota hai. Tum inko apne bohot atche dost maante ho but they only look at you as a person who is beneficial for them. Bachpan se sirf tumhe use kiya hai. Tumhari mom ka pyaar bhi inn dono ne cheena hai.."
"Rohan tum please yahan se jao" Swayam said trying to calm the situation.
"Oh please apna jhootha care apne paas rakho" Rohan snapped at him.
"Yeh teeno kaun hai.." said Rohan looking at Taani, Sharon and Simmi.
"Yeh humari collegues hai" said Nil.
"Wow Rey abhi toh office shuru hua hai, aur inti jaldi yeh yahan bhi aa gayi. Wow!"
"What do you mean?" Rey asked him confused by his words.
"Meine dekha isse tumhare saath dance karte. Bohot close aane ki koshish kar rahi thi" said Rohan pointing at Taani.
"Aur karegi kyun nahi, jab company ke boss ka beta pat jayega toh company mein entry toh pakki hai! Right?" Rohan said mockingly to Taani.
"What crap are you talking" Sharon shouted.
"Tum jaiso ko mein bohot atchi tarah se jaanta hoon. Rey inn sab se tum durr hi rehna" said Rohan.
Rey just walked out from there.
"Rey wait" Swayam shouted but Rey went away.
"Rohan why can't you leave him alone!" Nil barked at Rohan.
"Usne mujhe neecha dikhane ki koshish ki thi na. Iska badla toh mein leke hi rahunga" saying so Rohan walked out from there.
"Yeh sab jo usne kahan vo sab jhoot hai. Mere aise koi intentions nahi hai" Taani started crying.
"Taani we all know that" Swayam tried consoling her.
"But Rey.." Taani tried speaking.
"Don't worry about him. Usse thodi der akela rehne do" said Swayam.
"Kal office mein milte hai" said Nil.
They all dismissed.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
44