Runaway Bride- TaaRey FF - Page 23

Chapter 8 - Day 6 Last day of trekking

There are around 20 temples in Himalayas, and the guide promised them that they will try and visit as much as they can. Taani for some reason was quite today and so was Rey. After the respiration scene they both kind off stayed away from each other. In case they crashed, they shared an awkward smile followed by an awkward silence and then parted apart. Taani was feeling weird to be the first one to speak about it and Rey was giving her space as he didn't want to look like a pervert, so he decided that he will speak to her as and when she is comfortable. Both were waiting for the other person to come up first and say something but the day passed and none of them stepped ahead.

They entered the famous, almost 1,000 years old Bajinath temple. Rey very casually moved his camera around capturing the old architecture, antique idols. Amidst all of these his camera stopped at Taani. She was standing with her eyes closed, joining her hands and deep in her prayers. The smoke of the incense stick was all around her making her look angelic and pure.

Rey wasn't the type of guy who prayed or even believes in God, but for some reasons today he felt like doing so. He couldn't help but he kept staring at her from the screen of his camera. Taani took a deep breath as she opened her eyes and walked away very gracefully. Rey stood there, recording her till she moved completely out of his sight. This was the first time ever he felt so mesmerized by a female. He had girlfriends earlier, some that broke his heart and some hearts that he had crushed. But Taani? Why is he so attached to her? he felt something sour at his throat each time he realized that this was he's last day of this trip. What happens to him and Taani after this? Will he ever see her again?

It was dark already and they ate dinner in silence, Rey kept glancing at her in between his meal and Taani just returned a smile each time their eye met. They all sat in a circle for bonfire as the guide played his guitar and everyone sang songs and took pictures. It was their small farewell party which everyone was enjoying, trying to end their amazing trip with sweet memories.

Taani sat alone on one of the rocks, while Rey was surrounded by everyone else who was getting his contact number, adding him on facebook and following his twitter account. Taani gave a sad smile and stared at the fire, she caught her knee's and started to sway back and forth as she shut her eyes for few minutes trying to choose one best memory of her entire journey, She remembered Rey, who was standing at the door of the train with his camera, recoding her as she was running in her wedding lehenga! She almost gave up but it was he who caught her and pulled her in it. That was officially her best memory!!!She opened her eyes and giggled as she remembered their journey together.

It was only now that she realized that the reason why she had enjoyed was Rey.

She turned towards her left and found Rey already sitting next to her. The bon fire was almost dying and everyone was too busy chit chatting. She kept her hand on her chin and stared at the fire, trying to think of some way to start the conversation.

"Pura trip ek dusre ke saath bitaya aur aakhri din just look at us, humne aaj pura din sirf smile kar kar ke guzara hai" Rey said finally breaking the awkwardness.

Taani tugged strands of hair behind her ears and smiled, " trip kitni jaldi khatam ho gai na?" she took a deep breathe and continued, " aisa lag raha hai jaise kal hi shuru hua tha"

"aur aaj khatam ho gaya" Rey concluded with a smile.

"This was the best trip of my life, aur uska credit jata hai tume" Taani said as she placed her hands over his.

Rey gulped as she did that, he for some reasons now was feeling weak from within, he gulped again as he looked at her straight into her eyes.

Taani smiled and continued, "Tum bohot acche ho Rey! Jo bhi ladki tumhare saath hogi na wo bohot lucky hogi"

Why is she doing this? Her low tone voice was making Rey's heart sink, Taani smiled and moved her hand from his. She fidgeted with her hair a little and was about to say something when Rey interrupted.

"I'll miss you Taani"

Taani gulped and smiled nervously at him, trying real hard to have an eye contact but for some reasons she couldn't. Rey kept staring at her as if he's seeing her for the last time, he might see her again in Delhi but definitely there won't be a bonfire infront of them which will make her look so beautiful. Taani could literally feel his stare pass through her. She tried real hard to pretend she didn't realize it but her actions weren't helping her.

They didn't realize it but there was no-one around them, some already slept and some were walking on the rocks far away. The only sound they could hear was of crickets crying and charcoal burning. Taani looked at Rey who was staring at her too, that look on his face was making her crawl into his arms once again. She could see it that he was breathing slowly, staring at her lips and then into her eyes. He slowly lifted his hand and moved the strands on her face behind her ear, Taani felt shortage of breath as he touched her cheeks. She gave a soft smile as she stared at his arms and shoulder because she just couldn't look straight into his eyes.

Rey for some reasons couldn't control himself, he had spent so much time with Taani that he didn't realize what exactly is it that he's feeling for her right now. All he could think was of kissing those lips. He didn't know if it was right or wrong, nothing made sense to him at this point. He moved closer to her, staring at her lips, thinking that if she thinks its wrong than she will move or stop him.

Taani had never experienced this before. A guy was approaching her to kiss; she didn't know how to react. He was so close to her and then suddenly he stopped. Taani kept looking at his lips wondering as why did he stop there? Probably waiting for her consent, he must be thinking whether I'm okay with it or no. She glanced at him, he was staring at her lips waiting for some signal from her end. Taani shut her eyes and slowly moved towards him giving a peck on his lips.

Rey shut his eyes too, making the most of this moment. Taani slowly moved back and immediately looked around as she moved her hand in her hair. Rey released his breathe as he turned and faced opposite direction. He couldn't believe that this really happened. He had imagined her stopping him or moving away but she actually kissed him. He turned and glanced at her, she looked nervous. She kept shuffling her hair and pressing her lips as she blinked her eyes nervously.

Rey was about to say something to make things normal when Taani stood up,

"Wo...Main.." she laughed nervously as she moved her hands in the air, Rey looked at her confused. He understood this was probably the first time she kissed and now she doesn't know how to react. He was about to hold her hands, but Taani immediately started rubbing her arms.

" Rey, wo...Bohot raat hui hai" She looked around, trying to change the topic, "Kal bohot jaldi nikalna hai na?? So Good night Rey"

Rey was about to stop her but Taani kept walking. She rushed into her tent and snugged into her sleeping bag quickly before Rey walked in. She was feeling so confused right now that she didn't want to speak about it. She didn't know why she did that? Do they love each other? He never said that he liked her, they are friends right? but friends don't kiss!! She shouldn't have done that!! Maybe that's why he didn't stop her when she walked away from him. Taani shut her eyes tight feeling stupid for what happened.

Rey was still standing right where she left him. He touched his lips and smiled, she actually kissed him. He took a deep breathe again, and looked at the sky. The night looked more beautiful now, and he just couldn't stop remembering what just happened. But why did she walk away?? Maybe she was shy and now he was feeling so stupid for not stopping her. But he was surprised too!! He had a crush on her, and definitely liked her and now she kissed him which means she likes him too!

Rey walked in his tent planning to tell Taani that he really liked her and she doesn't have to feel shy about what happened. But he found her fully covered, snuggled inside her sleeping bag. Rey wanted to wake her up and speak everything right now but he didn't have the heart to wake her up. He slowly lied down inside his sleeping bag staring at Taani who slept facing her back to him.

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The night passed quickly than expected. Rey stretched his arms as he opened his eyes, last nights flashbacks made him smile and he immediately turned to see Taani but there was no one in there. Rey quickly jumped out from the bag and crawled outside his tent. Everyone was busy packing and he noticed that some of them already left.

"Hey, tumne Taani ko kahi dekha kya?" he asked the guide who was fidgeting with some forms.

"Taani...haan...wo toh 1^st batch ke saath chali gayi. Dude, you start packing, 2^nd group bhi next bus se nikalne wali hai"

Rey was stunned with this. Did she just leave? She left without speaking to him, after what happened last night between them she felt that the best way to sort this out was run away? Rey shut his eyes feeling bad for kissing her last night. He rubbed his temple trying to control his temper as he was getting pissed with everything around him.

After biding goodbye to the trekking team Rey boarded the train and made his journey back to Delhi. Sitting inside the train, Rey kept thinking about Taani. The way she decided to just leave everything and left. Suddenly Rey remembered her story about how she ran away from her wedding. How will her parents react when she returns back? Rey felt stupid for never asking her address or contact number! How will he ever know her condition now? Will her father forgive her? Will her family except her like before? Rey covered his face in his palms feeling miserable for not being with her during all of this.

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