TaaRey FF- Away from you updt 29/4 - Page 22

College corridor-5/6 days after rey s seen taani, both elections and party over.

Reys looking left and right searching for taani, the gangs making some huge noise

as usual...its irritating him...pata nahin kahaan chali gayi! Class mein bhi itna

worried lagrahin thi! library main bhi nhain thi, not in the canteen as well...hope

shes fine

And vicky nil exchanging some suspicious looks as sharon s complaining voice went

on- how can we let that happen?

And swayam saying so ..rey tumhe kya lagtha hain and they all turned to him ..

he was staring ahead - they turned and caught sight of dhruv talking to taani...\

reys fist clenched , his mind went aur main ek bada bewakoof hoon ki subah se

isko doond rahaan tha! Yeh sach mein itna badal gayi? And leaving the gang

walked away irritatedly.

taani moved towards the gang after saying bye to dhruv and preoccupied said hi

to them not realising that they were all giving her weird questioning looks about

dhruv...however swayam gave her a side hug and taani absentmindedly told him

bhai aap free hain tho mujhe baat karni thi

Swayam nodded and said to the gang," lets think about this tomorow guys ... itni

badi problem nahin..."

Problem? Kya problem bhai ?

And they all took off- basically VP sirs told them some plans regarding a musical

that they are planning for some college event but combining both dramatics and

dance teams-

And ab humein us drama team ke drama sab hamare rehersal hall mein tolerate

karna hoga Sharon concluded

Oohh ok, congrats taani

Aashi - kya taani? Aap GS thi na..kuch idea tho nikaalo

Taani- kisliye? ( continuing sarcastically) ...mere hisaaf se aap sabko duniya ke

doosre insaano ke saath adjust karna seekh lena chahiye

and walked off in her own world shaking her head and ignoring their frowns

at her obvious disinterest and rudeness- ab isse kya hua?

Didnt she sound exactly like rey just now? sharon

not just because shes my sister par i agree with her...main bhi wahin kehrahaan

tha- swayam and looked at taani s back wondering why she was preoccupied

Rey thinking and punching his video games remote, vicky nil next to him at

reys place staring at his fingers and his remote bearing the brunt of his anger,

exchanged glances

Rey tune aaj kuch bhi nahin kahaan un dramatics waalon ko rehersal hall mein ..

.tuje ho kya gaya hain? No answer. Rey in mental convo

but itna upset kyun thi aaj? Not upset...but ...kuch tho tha...uske dimaakh mein...

ya dil mein?? Punch harder as he thought

ummrey, us remote pe thoda ...pity rakho. usne tumhaara kuch nahin bigaada hain

Nil

Rey looked at them not understanding and then at the remote , shrugged and went

back to punching it. Vicky hit his head into the cushion as reys thoughts continued

in the same confusing cycle

Vicky nil got up and said,we r leaving

Rey nodded and then suddenly "but where to? Itni jaldi kahaan ?"

They stopped and exchanged looks guiltily and then mumbling some nonsense

ran out fast. Rey frowned what r these two upto aaj kal ?kuch gadbad hain! Whys everyone hiding stuff today?

And he got up followed them

late in the evening- outside a small wild place where the dance betting was

happening- for those who remember and for those who dont know- vicky nil

had got into this betting thing where they kept losing purposely in dance to

make some money. Rey followed them, found out and got them out of it.This s

the time when rey first tracked them down

Taani with anjali in same place-

taani looking all nervous at the wild cheering crowd muttering "hey krishnaji, main

kahaan phas gayi...mujhe aana hi nahin chahiye tha..."

"kaise nahin aathi- u promised ki tum mujhe new article mein help karogi. I want

to research why ppl come here plus my dear you need a change- tumhaare us

dard bhari life se ..now as you dont obviously want a new boyfriend, new places

tho dekho.. Forget your college university future sab for some time...bas one

new experience hain "

"bas!? Agar bhai ko pata chala main yahaan hoon tho...( shaking her head and then looking around at everyone)

Anjali rolled her eyes ," how old are you really?" and grinning at her nervous

frown said, " relax taani. Its just a betting adda dance ka "

" kaise betting karthe hain dance mein yeh log? ! Its so pure dance " she said in

disgust at the darkened place and cheering people

Anjali surprised," ab tumhe dance bhi aatha hain? "

taani s face fell and she shook her head as she said," but mere bhai aur ...unke

saare team sab dancers hain. I cant imagine ...wo log kabhi aisi jagah nahin aayenge"

and her eyes fell on vicky nil making fools of themselves. Her mouth fell open and

she stared at their dance - Why were they dancing like that? Hey krishnaji! Yeh

dono aise? Matlab yeh log purposely haar rahe hain?!Itne bure tareeke se !

Anjali looking at the changes on her face ," you know them?" taani nodded still in

shock ," good , lets speak to them " as vicky nil lost.

taani immediately shook her head nervously," oh cmon. Accha teek hain , you stay

here. Main unko leke aathi hoon and then you can intro me" and before taani could

agree or disagree she walked off leaving taani uncomfortable in the middle of a

screaming loud wild crowd of people all cheering and booing the dances.

She fidgeted and stood for a while trying to keep an eye on anjali but lost her and

then tried to search for vicky nil , couldnt find them too and then scanned the crowd

once , and twice and then ...wait...thats rey?!!she shook her head and saw again

- he was there staring back at her - krishnaji..why was she dreaming so much ?wo yahaan nahin honge ...and then bumped right into a guy without realising

The guy fell on some stuff next to her, slipped into something greasy and turned

cursing to taani as taani mumbled nervously," sorry sorry maine dekha nahin...hey

krishnaji yeh main kar kya rahin hoon?" and the guy who was about to say its okay

stopped and finding the krishnaji mumbling in a girl with short streaked hair funny

said," no eyes?" rudely

Some guys and girls around turned as he repeated," so no eyes? "taani shook her

head getting scared at the staring looks that people gave her ," what no eyes?"

And people laughed. Taani face flushed with embarrassment and she looked around

for anjali or vicky/nil

" who are you looking for? Ab sab dikhrahaan hain kya? Dhakka kyun... "

Taani looked at him , at the people surrounding her curiously and interrupted her

voice soft ," sorry i didnt do it purposely" and started going away. He blocked her

path , she moved to other side, he moved too grinning , she looked up at him and

said," maine sorry kahaan already , so please let me go" her voice stronger

"new here?" she didnt reply but tried to move," dancer? Cmon then one challenge " why the hell was everyone asking her that?

"NO" she stopped moving and shot at him," and agar maine dancer hothi tho aise

jagah pe tho kabhi nahin karthi ..."

" then what r u doing aise jagah pe ?" the guy sounding insulted now

"meri saath hain" rey s voice came in through the crowd of people making taani

head snap back in his direction. He walked to her and standing next to her said

" any problem?"

Taani shook her head vigorously to clear it - the dream rey became real rey ? 5 days

se nahin dekha na unhe , isiliye rey har jagah dikh rahe hain! Itna stress nahin lena

chahiye taani.. But then jumped as she felt a familiar arm around her waist - he was real? Sach mein?

The guy shook his head smiling and said," no, just having fun" and giving her a look

" and yahaan bhi dance hi hotha hain, dont get it wrong "

" ya fine whatever" and rey pulled her along saying dismissively.

" tho tum ek dance challenge?" he asked rey instead

Rey hesitated a second tempted but felt taani s slight turn of the head towards

him and ," next time definitely"

taani relaxed and let herself be steered away from

the crowd and outside and saw him. It actually registered he was here! And felt

a relief flood through her. She breathed out a sigh as they stood outside near

parking and the noise came down and looked at him his arm still around her waist

and realised she was clutching his arm above the elbow tightly and said," thank..."

but rey asked his voice surprised and almost angry, "what the hell are you doing

here ? alone? Do you have any..."

" no rey, i came with a friend who ..." and looked around for anjali

"i didnt see any friend around! Kaunsa friend? " and then suddenly ," guy or a girl"

looking around everywhere for dhruv

Frowning ," koi bhi ho aap kyun itna kuch pooch kyun rahe ho? "

"bcoz i just found you alone in a ragging session with a jerk. Agar kisiki saath aayi

ho tho hide kyun karrahin ho?"

" ajeeb hain ! aapko kya problem hain maine kahaan jao, kiske saath jao. Maine

boldiya na thanks so fine chodo ab" she left his arm irritated with his angry look

not really getting he was jealous

" i dont exactly remember you being this ...wild...or even interested in stuff like

this..yeh sudden interest in sab mein , with that hair cut short and streaks and the

short top and old jeans you fit in quite well with the crowd getting into fighte .kiska influence hain?"

he said his tone almost demanding as his eyes ran over her hair and settled on

the high ponytail that she had attempted to tie.

She frowned " influence matlab? Shayad aapko yaad nahin hoga but mera khudh

ka dimaakh hain"

"how can i forget that taani? Usike wajah se hi tum mere saath nahin ho' he shot back

"now you are forgetting rey - wo meri dimaakh nahin aapki dimaakh ki wajah se

hain" she answered back swiftly to his sarcasm

For a second they stared at eachother, the whole stupidities playing out before

them together and then taani sighed as she saw his eyes get the guilty look back

in them ,she replied softly suddenly feeling the warmth of his hands on her bare

waist," i didnt mean it that way rey. Sach mein ...sorry"

"i guess you r right! " he nodded and looked away

she was about to open her mouth when anjali came running from nowhere looking

a little worried and stopped in front of her panting," i...m...sooo...soo..rr.yy ...kya

hua? Was it you who got teased just now?" and bent holding her tummy," tum

teek ho?"

"yes! and i guess no thanks to you" rey sarcastic tone hit anjali . She stood up ,

looked from taani to rey and then at his arm around taani s waist, taani fidgeted

but rey continued," Maybe you didnt know she isnt used to crowds like this...but

she really isnt and if you do bring kisiko tho unka saath rehna chahiye " though

rey looked glad to see anjali instead of any guy

Taani embarrassed said " rey! Its not like ...

" so this is the loser? "

One moment silence and then Reys eyebrows went up , met anjali s who was looking

at him with distrust when taani completely embarrassed said," haan"

Rey turned to her surprised , she realised what she said and ," no no i mean. Yeh

loser nahin...i mean...rey hain! And rey...anjali!"

She looked so flustered that Rey smiled at her cuteness as he released her waist

from his arm making her suddenly conscious of loss of his touch and look at him

while anjali still sizing him up said sarcastically

" and you are telling me about kisika saath dena and all ! Interesting!" stressing

on you

"anjali! Please " taani intervened as rey looked back at anjali . Anjali looked at

taani smiled ," sorry" and lifted her hands up

Taani smiled back," ghar chalein?"

"i still have stuff to do...ur friends left btw"

Catching taani s i want to leave this place expression, rey pitched in ," cmon i ll

drop you home " to taani who hesitated for a second

" are you sure you want to go back with him?" anjali. Rey frowned at her but

anjali s tone of mistrust rattled taani and she nodded strongly .

Rey smiled while anjali gave her a quick hug muttering sorry , turning to rey waved

a bye ," drop her safe" making rey again frown after her back as she ran back.

Starting to walk to the bike, he grumbled," drop her safe! Yeh hothi kaun hain mujhe

kehne waali tumhaare baare mein ? Waise thanks! For the first time kisine mujhe

loser kahaan" Taani blushed embarrassed " no rey..." but rey continued

" but loser tho main hoon...especially when it comes to you.."

"no rey! Anjali ko kuch nahin pata, she just assumes ki all boyfriends are losers..."

He laughed "wo bhi sahin hain! But tell me tum log yahaan..."

And she told him about anjali s project etc., as he adjusted the bike and then said,

" umm...i was shocked ...mujhe laga im still dreaming when i saw you here!! ek

tattoo ki kamin hain bas and you ll fit in here perfectly with all the new look "

she wondered if he was serious or joking but he smiled and all her anxiety, worry

and confusion disappeared. He was seriously joking and she found herself smiling

back at him involuntarily warming to his smile- her heart in her mouth fluttering.

she blushed and he smiled more all his restlessness , all anxiety gone as he took

in the redness on her cheeks and he felt his heart more light than it had been the

past few weeks

he gestured to the backseat and she was about to sit slightly embarrassed at having

to sit behind him hold him again but suddenly remembered ,

" but rey aap yahaan kya karrahe the? " and her eyes narrowing in disbelief ,

" aap bhi wo vicky aur nilesh ke saath kahin ..."

He shook his head, " of course not! Theres only one person for whom ive

compromised my dance ..." and then stopped , exchanged a look with her - she

understood he referred to NDC and felt guilty. He looked away and saying- baitho

started the bike and told her about the whole vicky nil stuff as they drove back ,

her hands on his shoulder kept at an edge

Taani apartment- parking

Taani jumped down from the bike ," dont worry rey, im sure vicky aur nilesh ka

zaroor koi real reason hoga " he smiled glad for her support though as of then he

was least bothered about anything other than her eyes looking through him again

" and rey, please bhai ko mat batana...please " he nodded ," thanks drop ke liye "

and after a second of waiting for him to say something moved.

"taani" she stopped," when someone drops you home you generally offer them

a cup of coffee" and met her eyes.

She looked embarrassed but said," yes rey but someone has told me ki mujhe

unse door rehna hain...and i dont want to force myself on them" and she turned

away and walked off

The relief of each others company that both of them had felt in the last hour

suddenly evaporated. Rey started the bike with unnecessary force while taani

felt her confusion and sadness returning as she opened the door to her home-

why did i say that?

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