Chapter 6
Sharon quickly opens her wardrobe again; usually she would just pick any random outfit. But today she moved her finger across each one of them. She picked a blue one, went to the mirror and kept it over herself, it didn't seem right to her, she threw it on her bed and went and picked a dark green one. And all she could recall were Swayams words about her. "tumme kahi koi toh kami ho, par nai, Its like Bhagwan ne 6 din lagayi duniya banane mein, aur 7th ve din unhone rest nahi li, but uss din unhone specially off liya, Tumhe banane k liye"
She automatically smiled and went to get ready, excited to hear what Swayam will say to her today.
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Sharon walked quickly through the corridor of the college looking out for Nilesh, or Taani or even Swayam. She found Swayam standing near the notice board. She smiles and takes a deep breath and stands near him. Swayam was too busy reading something on the board with a huge smile. Sharon fixes her hair once again in the hope that it will distract him, but it didn't work.
She looks around and looks at him again this time clearing her throat to gain his attention but instead of looking at her, he opened his bag to take out a pen and wrote something on a paper stuck on the notice board and then just walked away.
Sharon just stood there with her mouth wide open with a shock and embarrassment that he didn't notice her, She looks at herself from the reflection of the notice board mirror trying to figure out what went wrong.
"Hiee Sharon" Taani walked in. Tensed Sharon looked at her, "Taani...Hiee..Taani kya aaj main acchi nai lag rahi?" Taani was surprised with that question, she holds her shoulders, "Sharon, tum humesha acchi dikti ho" Sharon took a deep breath, "Kal usne kaha ki (she took a deep breath)You know what Taani, maybe he is like every other guy here. Aur muje laga ki wo alag hai."
Taani looks around and then again at Sharon, "Sharon tum kiski baat kar rahi ho?"
Sharon was still murmuring, "Aisa kya hai notice board pe jo itna intresting laga usko" She looks at the paper where he had just signed up his name.
Taani read, "Fund raiser fair" She looked at Sharon, "ye fund raiser fair kya hota hai?"
Charlie walked in from behind, "Humari college har saal ye fair rakhti hai, to raise funds for the cancer patients. Ye notice board pe sign up sheet lagaya hai, jo bhi stalls dalne mein interested hai, wo apna naam ispe likh sakte hai" Sharon and Taani looked at each other with a excited smile.
Charlie took out a pen and wrote her name, Taani smiled, "It's so nice of you."
Charlie smiled at her, "Actually sirf naam mera hai. par stall main nai dalne wali, It will be Rey"
Taani didn't understand, Charlie looked at both the girls, "Basically ye sheet college ki committee dekhegi aur sirf the fortunate kids will get selected to put up a stall." She looks at them and realized they still didn't get what she meant. She repeats herself and air quotes "Fortunate kids"
Taani smiled pretending that she understood. Charlie looks at her, "ab bhi nai samjhi?" They both nod no.
Charlie walks closer to them, "I meant ki sirf un students ko select karenge jiske baap k paas maal ho"
Taani and Sharon take a deep breath and look at each other as they have never spoken in that language before. Baap and maal and all. This was new to them.
Charlie continued, "They know Rey ki condition aisi nai hai so they wont select him, aur my dad? He is the deputy of this town so they know ki mere paas power and paisa kuch zyada hi hai so they can't say no to me. (she paused and looks at them both) Sharon Rai Prakash, tumhare dad is one of the most respected judge we all have ever known (she paused again as she realized he is no more)Umm..i mean was..umm(she didn't know how to put it in a nice way, when Sharon interrupts "It's okay tum continue karo jo kehne wali thi"
"Yeah" she continued, "aur Taani Shikhawat, we all know ki tum iss sheher ki sabse rich insaan ki beti ho, tum log sign up karlo. I'm so sure ki tum log select honge."
Sharon looked at Taani. Taani smiles, "Kya hum dono ek saath ek stall daal sakte hai? Just like you and Rey are partners so maybe me and Sharon also can be..right?"
Charlie smirks, "Baby, hum jaise Fortunate kids (she air quotes fortunate kids again) Kuch bhi kar sakte hai" she smiled and walked away giving her pen in Taani's hands. Sharon looks as Taani wrote her name on it.
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It was the last lecture and the whole class was excited, as the committee member came in to announce the names of the selected students.
"So students, I am so proud and happy that so many of you'll came forward to help. Sach mein I feel so proud of you'll, so jaise main select huye student's ka naam lunga, please stand up." All students were eagerly waiting for him to just spill out the names. Sharon held Taani's hand who was sitting next to her.
"So the first student from your batch is Miss.Neha Singh" all students start clapping as she stood. He kept taking out names of many students back to back. Taani looks around, She looks at the students who were selected, one was Neha Singh, Yeah... she is the daughter of Doctor Singh and also the topper of her previous school. Then stood Bharat Ragathi, the captain of college's football team. Next they called out Charlie Chauhan, who we all know is the daughter of the deputy. She stood up very casually as she was so expecting it sooner or later. It didn't make a huge difference to her, but when she looked at Rey, he was so happy. He gave his victory smile, she just smirked back.
Next was "Swayam Shikhawat" who was sitting on the last bench, Sharon quickly turned and looked at him, he hadn't said a word to her the entire day, not even a single praise, everyone was clapping as he stood smiling at everyone. Sharon just fixed her hair and looked around avoiding giving him any attention. Rey just looked at Swayam and sat uptight with an annoyed, challenging expression.
After taking out many other students name like the Cheerleader Simmi Khanna, swimming champion Amar Gowda, Taani looked at Sharon thinking why on earth would they take my name, I'm not any leader, or popular girl. I'm just ordinary girl who was home schooled my whole life. Maybe I should have written Sharon's name, atleast she seems more popular than me."
Taani almost gave up and was staring at the ground sadly when the committee member announced "And last but not the least, Miss Taani Shikhawat" Taani just looked at the committee member for few minutes and then at Sharon who was clapping out of excitement. Sharon signaled her to stand up. Taani kept looking around thinking why me? Among all these students?' Just then her eyes fall on Charlie who was smiling at her. And Taani realized why she was standing amongst all this talented popular kids, "Fortunate kids ofcourse!!" Taani smiled back at Charlie.
The whole class dismissed talking and discussing about the stalls. Taani and Nil were busy talking where Sharon kept pretending to listen but staring at Swayam who was talking to some other girls.
how typical! 2 din mere itne piche pada tha aur ab dekho, dusri ladkiyo k saath kaise baatein kar raha hai, I can't believe main isski baato se impress hui thi'.
Nil looked at Sharon and then at Swayam. He snaps his fingers infront of her face, "Waha kya dekh rahi ho?" Sharon looks at Nil and then at Swayam and then changes her expression, annoyingly she looks at Nil "You know what, ye sab tumhare wajah se hua! Agar tum time pe ate na freshers party me toh ye sab nai hota!" She gets up and walks away like a small angry kid, Nil goes behind her to pacify her. Taani looks at both of them and starts giggling at their kiddish antics. Her eyes fall on Rey who was walking with 2 cups of cappuccino. Taani stood up.
"Congratulations!"
He looked at her, "Well, congratulations to you too"
Taani just smiled at him. Rey took a deep breath, "So tum kounsa stall dalogi?"
Taani was about to answer when Rey cuts her, "nahi nahi. don't tell me. Let's keep it a surprise!"
Taani giggles, "Kyu? Kya farak padta hai?"
Rey takes a deep breath in, "Agar muje pehle hi pata chala ki tum kya karne wali ho toh phir competition maza kaise ayega?
Taani looks around and then raises her shoulders asking, "kounsa competition?"
Rey smirks and comes close to her speaking in a competitive tone, "Har koi kal tumhe aur baki sabko compete karne ka sochenge, ki koun sabse zyada paise kamayega kal k fair mein, kiska stall sabse pehle sell out hoga, (takes a deep breath and looks at Swayam)well sabse zyada to main hi kamaunga, (looks at Taani)all the best to you, see you tomorrow"
Taani just looked at Rey as he walked by wondering why everything is about competition to him.
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