Part Seven
"Everything is arranged? Great! Oh confirmed as well, brilliant! Thanks for making arrangements at such a short notice." Rey ended the call staring at the scholarship letter in his hand.
"Rey?" He heard Swayam calling and quickly shoved the letter into the drawer and went outside his room.
"Yeah?"
"Tum Taani se baat karne wale ho?" Swayam asked.
"Ab kya baki reh gaya hai baat karne ke liye" Turning on the television, he sat in front of it shuffling channels.
"Kal vo bohot upset thi" Nil informed him.
"I know but mein uske saamne jaake usse aur hurt nahi karna chahata."
"But at least apologize." Swayam said.
"You really think she'll accept my apology? She hates me Swayam!"
"Toh usse bata do that you love her and just make things work out between you two." Swayam pleaded.
"Even I feel that you should be with Taani. Tum dono perfect ho. So please sort this mess." Nil gave his opinion.
"Tum logon ko kisne kaha ki I love her? I don't love her! Get that clear!" Rey almost barked at them.
"Humpe chillane se sach badal nahi jayega!" Syawam said.
"Guys please ab vo sab chodo. Mujhe kuch important baat karni hai."
"Kya?"
"I'm going to London tomorrow." Rey told them.
What?!" Taani exclaimed.
"Haan Taani mujhe abhi Swayam ka phone aaya tha. He told that Rey is leaving for London tomorrow." Sharon informed her.
"But weren't they all supposed to go there together at the end of this month?" Simmi asked.
"Haan, but Swayam keh raha tha ki Rey ko koi mail aya tha and they asked him to reach early. Which by the way isn't true. Jab Rey ke mails check kiye un dono ne, koi aisa mail nahi mila unhe. He is going because of some other reason." Sharon looked at Taani.
"Hoga koi reason, hume kya lena. Vo jaye ya na jaye who cares?" Taani gave a not so interested look and continued eating her food.
"Tumne khud mujhse confess kiya tha ki you like him." Sharon looked at Taani demanding for an answer.
"I liked him. But not anymore!" Taani's reply was cold.
"Ek din mein like se hate pe chali gayi. You're very fast!"
"Sharon taunts mujhe bhi maarne aate hai! And listen I'm not interested in talking about him. Please spare me!" Taani got up and went in her room.
"Sharon tum yahan?" Swayam asked when he saw her at Rey's house.
"Mujhe Rey se baat karni hai."
"No use. He isn't ready to listen. Usne saare hopes chod diye hai."
"Aur wahan Taani aise behave kar rahi hai ki Rey exist hi nahi karta."
"I've tried so much to make him go and talk to Taani, but meri baat sune toh!" Swayam sighed and sat with Sharon to think of a way to get Rey and Taani talking to each other.
They finally came up with a plan of giving a farewell party to him. It wasn't an actual party; they planned for a day out with him. As per the plan they booked tickets for a movie and later thought to have dinner at his favourite restaurant. There was a third person present who heard their plan but made no move so as to get caught.
Swayam and Nil managed to get Rey to the theatre and were waiting for Sharon, Taani and Simmi to arrive.
"Hum yahan kyun ruke hai?" Rey asked.
"Girls like always are late!" Nil stated shaking his head.
"You've called them as well?" Rey asked bewildered.
"Kyun humse bina mile hi jaana chahate ho?" Sharon asked moving towards the trio.
"I didn't mean that. It's just ki mujhe inn dono ne bataya nahi that even you are joining us." Rey gave a friendly hug to Sharon and Simmi.
He looked at Taani and on seeing the hatred in her eyes he backed away and they all went inside.
"Why did you lie to me? Tumne pehle bataya kyun nahi ki hum inke saath movie dekhne wale hai?" Taani pulled back Sharon and glared at her.
"Agar sach bata deti toh tum koi bahana bana kar ghar pe hi rukti!" Sharon gave her a knowing look and moved forward to catch up with the rest.
On reaching their seats, Swayam, Sharon, Nil and Simmi quickly took seat and now only two seat were left which were next to each other for Rey and Taani. Deep down Rey felt happy, but on seeing the look on Taani's face the tiny hope he had to get back Taani vanished. He exchanged seats with Simmi and sat there like a statue staring at the screen. Sharon and Swayam gave a disappointed look to each other.
"Why did you get up from your seat?" Sharon yelled at Simmi once they exited.
"They both didn't want to sit next to each other. And Sharon please stop this match making, agar unhe saath nahi rehna then why are you forcing?" Simmi asked frustrated hearing rants from her sister.
"Oh toh yeh sab tumhara plan tha. How could I not guess that my sister would do something like this?" Taani smirked at Sharon.
"Taani mein tumhare bhale.."
"Agar mera bhala chahati ho toh stop interfering in my life. Meine jab tumhe kaha tha ki don't push me then why are you so adamant on getting me hooked up with Rey. Just spare me." Taani started to walk off from there, stopped and said, "And I'm not coming to that dinner. Have fun!"
"Great!" Sharon was frustrated now.
She went to Swayam and told him that Taani had left. Swayam and Nil were disappointed but thought to just leave their plan and just to enjoy the dinner.
"Thanks" Rey thanked Swayam and Nil on their way home.
"Thanks kyun?" Nil asked.
"For trying. But now please stop. This was my last night in India, thanks for making it special." Rey genuinely thanked them. By then they had dropped Sharon and Simmi home.
"Last night?" Swayam asked.
"Haan matlab kal shaam ki flight hai, so this is like the last night" Rey had a nervous smile.
"Haan par hum wapis bhi toh aa rahe hai in three years. Why are you making it sound like you aren't coming back?" Swayam guessed from his smile.
"Because I am not coming back! Ever!"
There was silence in the car. No one spoke. They returned to their respective houses. Swayam and Nil were in utter shock on getting the news. They knew the reason behind it but couldn't do anything to break Rey's resolve. On the other hand Rey spent the entire night with his parents reminiscing old memories. He couldn't tell them that he is going forever.
The next day Swayam and Nil went to meet Rey. He was busy packing and was not ready to listen to any one. They tried really hard but couldn't change his decision. Swayam even blackmailed him saying what would happen to mom when she will find out that he isn't coming back to which he just calmly replied, "Mom can always come there and stay with me, aur agar vo nahi bhi aayi toh I know that when you two are here with her she will be fine." They both went home defeated.
There was a knock at the door, Sharon went and opened it.
"Tum?" That was the only word that came out of her mouth.
"Mujhe Taani se baat karni hai" Rohan said.
"Aur tumhe aisa kyu lagta hai ki mein tumhe Taani se baat karne dungi?" Sharon shouted at him.
Hearing her, Simmi and Taani came out of their rooms.
"Sharon kaun hai?" Taani asked.
"Taani please let me in, mujhe tumse baat karna bohot important hai" Rohan pleaded.
"Rohan tum chale jao, I have no interest in talking to you. Just go!" Taani stated firmly.
"Taani just one chance, I swear mein kabhi bhi tumhare saamne nahi aaunga, just hear me out please."
There was sincerity in his voice for the first time and Taani thought to give him a chance. She asked Sharon to let him in.
"Thanks" Rohan said.
"Tumhe jo bhi kehna hai say it fast" Taani replied.
"I'm really sorry for my behavior. Meine tum teeno ko bohot kuch baate kahi jo mujhe nahi kehni thi, but I couldn't stop myself. Jabse mere friends ne mere saath dhoka kiya tabse I see every person with that look. Mein kisiko dusre nazariye se dekh hi nahi sakta, ya phir dekhna nahi chahata."
"Matlab?" Taani asked.
"Matlab yeh ki, even after I recovered from my initial shock everyone behaved nicely with me. Mein jaisa bhi behave karu but no one shouted at me. Dheere dheere iss sab ki adat ho gayi. Then I started insulting anyone and everyone outside my family. Ek baar meine Swayam ko bhi bohot kuch keh diya tha, and trust me he was very hurt. Rey had revolted back at me then. Mujhe bura laga toh I tried to kill myself as Rey ek aisa banda that meri life mein jisne mujhe sar ankhon pe bitha ke rakha tha. But after my attempt to suicide, he never said anything to me, chahe mein kitna bhi mean ho jau. Iss cheez ka galath advantage liya and I said all those things about you which I shouldn't have. Par jab tumne mujhe meri life ki sachayi batayi, it was then I felt ki meine Rey ki atchayi ka use karke kitno ko dukh pahuchaya hai."
Taani was emotional on hearing all this. She could see it in Rohan's eyes that he was guilty. She went and comforted him.
"Tumhe Rey se yeh shikayat thi na ki he didn't stand up for you, this was the reason. Use kahin na kahin lagta hai ki I might again do that stupid mistake of killing myself. He loves you a lot girl. Kal raat ko I saw him stare at your photo and cry, uss waqt mujhe sachme pata chala what you mean to him."
"Rohan tum.."
"Let me finish Taani. He is going to London today"
"Jaanti hoon"
"Par tum yeh nahi jaanti ki vo kabhi wapis nahi aane wala."
"Matlab?"
"He is leaving India forever. I heard him say ki yahan ki har ek cheez use tumhari yaad dilayegi. He is planning to never come back."
"He can't do that!" To say Taani was shocked would be an understatement.
"Mere hisaab se sirf ek hi cheez use rok sakti hai"
"Kya?"
"Tum Taani. Please go and stop him. Please."
"Rohan..I..I don't know.."
"Taani mera kaam tumhe batana tha. Aage tumhari marzi. But ho sake toh mujhe maaf kar dena." He got up to leave.
"Rohan I have no grudges against you.."
"If you give Rey a second chance, I will believe that you've forgiven me." He left.
Later that evening at the airport. Swayam, Nil, Rohan, Rey's parents, Sharon and Simmi had come to bid him bye. Taani had still not made up her mind. She knew that Rey loved her and was sure that her feeling towards him was of love. But she was still not over the fact that Rey had disappointed her by not standing for her.
"Taani nahi aayi?" Rey asked Sharon.
His eyes were teary. Though Taani had cancelled on dinner, he had hoped that she would come there to bid him a final good bye. Sharon lowered her head and moved it left right indicating a no. Rey let out a sigh and asked Sharon for a final help.
"Kya help chahiye?" Sharon asked.
"Kya tum Taani ko call kar sakti ho? Vo mera phone nahi uthane wali and I want to see her one last time."
Sharon immediately called Taani.
"Hello" Taani answered.
"Taani.." Tears had started to flow down. Rey quickly excused himself and went to a secluded area.
"Rey?"
"Haan."
"Tum ro rahe ho?"
"Taani I'm really sorry. I know I've no right to ask you this, but please can you come here?"
"Rey mein.."
"Mein bas tumhe ek baar dekhna chahata hoon. Please."
Taani cancelled the phone as she didn't want Rey to hear that she too was crying. She hugged her phone tight and cried her heart out. Rey knew that this was it, Taani will never be his, not even as a friend. He wiped his tears and came back to the gang. The look on his face showed his want for Taani, but no one could help.
The announcement for check-in was done. It was time to leave! Rey bid final good byes to everyone and took blessing from his parents.
"London jaake hume bhool mat jana" Sharon hugged him.
"Chahke bhi nahi bhool sakta" He spoke back.
"I'll miss you man" Swayam hugged him.
"Oye itna senti mat ho. In 15 days you two are coming there" Rey ruffled Swayam's hair.
"Okay guys bye. See you soon." Rey said looking at Swayam and Nil and turned to go inside the terminal.
"REY!" He heard someone shout his name and his feet froze. Was he dreaming? Was it the person who he thought that called him? Should he look behind, only to get disappointed that this was just his imagination. He decided to move ahead.
"REY!" He heard it again. This time loud and clear. He turned around and found Taani running at him. He couldn't believe his eyes. He pinched himself hard to believe it. She ran to him and almost jumped on him and hugged him tight. He recovered from his shock and hugged her back.
Loud hoots and whistles got them out of their dreamland. They broke the hug and looked at each other. He wiped away her tears and hugged her again, wanting never to let her go. After a while she managed to break the hug.
"I love you Rey. I love you a lot!" finally Taani confessed.
Tears started to flow down his eyes as well. He was more than happy.
"I love you too Taani." He spoke back.
"Please don't leave me alone" Taani begged him.
"I have to go Taani." He pleaded.
"Then promise to come back"
"I..Listen.. This was my dream.."
"Yes I know but you have to promise me that you'll come back. I can't live without you!"
"Don't lie! Kal tak mera face nahi dekhna chahati thi tum."
"Rey!" She started hitting him sensing he was fooling her, "I came here on right time to give you your love aur tum mera hi mazak uda rahe ho!" she huffed.
"Give me my love? As if you didn't want your love?" He retorted.
"Guys!" They heard the gang shout.
"Idhar hi jhagadte rahoge kya?" Swayam asked.
Rey rolled his eyes at him and turned back to Taani. "Thanks for coming. And I'll be back for you!"
"I'll wait for you!"
"Atcha ab girlfriend mil gayi toh mom ko hug nahi karneka right?" Rajashree taunted.
"Mom" Rey wailed and went and hugged her tight.
He finally left giving a last tight hug to Taani with a promise of returning back!
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