The Fan's Love Story - TaaRey - Page 19

Chapter 8

The rains in Hyderabad just wouldn't stop pouring. Rey sat in the projector room waiting for the show to end so he could wrap up his work and leave.

Looking at the pouring raindrops through the small window Rey began pondering about his life. Or shall we say more about Taani's statement he heard about him. It would be a lie if he said t didn't hurt him. It would be lie if he said it didn't bother him. Because it certainly did. He sighed as he flipped the tiny coin in his hand which was once given to him by his father for completing his homework on time.

Reyansh realized that he had a habit of holding on to good memories. So he decided to go by that habit and instantly shut his eyes.

He visualized Taani, the innocent face in the elevator, the tensed debutant in the staircase, the nervous performer at the terrace. A smiled creeped on his face which was soon wiped off as he heard a thump in the corridor.

Wondering if its his dad who hurt himself Rey rushed outside,

"Baba aap thik toh hai..." he was panting but for all other reasons now.

There was Taani, on the floor, fully drenched in rain. She gulped as she looked at him through her drowsy yet dreamy eyes. She giggled for few seconds as Rey stood stunned not sure how to react. Taani looked around for support as she tried to stand up.

"Reyyy...mere dost!!" her tone was high, as if she were in a club.

Worried Rey quickly rushed to her, "Taani.. yeh..are you..."

"Drunk??" asked high Taani, "I guess I am!!" she laughed again.

"Tume yaha nai hona chaiye" he said as he helped her sit on the quite staircase.

She looked at him as she tried to take off the wet hair over her forhead, "haan??!! Media wale dekenge toh kya kahenge na?"

"Tumhari mom aur sab"

"Ssshhh" hushed Taani as she raised her hand in he air, "No Mom, no media, no superstar"

Rey sat opposite her as she continued talking,

"imagine" she whispered in her drunk tone, "Imagine main Taani hoon, normal Taani."

Rey smiled, "Wo toh tum mere liye humesha se ho"

"exactly!!!" screectched Taani, "exactly my point!! Isiliye toh main tumhare paas khiche khiche chali aati hoon aur tum ho ke muje door door jane k liye keh rahe ho!!"

Taani grabbed Rey's arms as began talking, "muje koi superstar nai banna. Muje normal banna hai. Logo ke tarah aaram se jise chahe use dost banana hai. Aaram se shopping jana hai. Tumhare saath aise haatho mein haath dale ganto baitna hai"

Rey stared at Taani's teary eyes as she continued, "Kal maine ek reporter se jooth bola. Kaha ki terrace pe main thi hi nai!! Pata hai muje kitna bura laga? Muje aise laga ki dheere dheere main meri mom ke jaise ban jaungi! Muje mom ke jaise nai banna Rey!!"

Rey immediately wiped her tear, "Tum Avantika ke jaise bilkul bhi nai ho!"

Taani sniffed, "Tumne jo kaha tha uss din, ki you'll fall in love with me... kya wo abhi bhi ho sakta hai?"

A small smile creeped on Rey's face, "wo actually, kabhi bhi ho sakta hai."

Taani smiled as a child, "Agar main superstar nai hoti...tab bhi?"

"Tab bhi" smiled Rey

"Main mom se kehke ye film line chodd deti hoon. Kal hi. Phir hum dono yaha se kahi door chale jayenge. "

Rey patted Taani's head as she rested it on his shoulder. He knew she was drunk but her reactions were all genuine. A part of Rey was happy that Taani wanted to be with him, she was willing to end her career for him. Just being with him made her happy. They could both live a happy life. Together as one, they could be what they wanted to be.

As they sat on the staircase quite as ever, a shadow distracted Rey. He looked up at Sam who was walking towards them. But Rey began getting worried as he noticed Avantika storming behind her, glaring at Rey and Taani.

"How dare you!!" yelled Avantika

"Mom?" questioned drunk Taani who could hardly open her eyes.

"I can't believe this !! Yeh ladki hume doobake chodegi. Why don't you understand Taani. Main thak gayi samjhate samjhate ki tum Shikhawat ho!! Yeh middle class harkate karna chodd do!"

Taani murmured something as Rey grabbed her hand tighter. He could sense it that this was probably the last time he was holding it. He could feel something bad coming.

"Yeh sab tumhari wajah se ho raha hai. Meri beti ka picha karte karte tum iss had tak girroge muje nai pata tha. Publicity ke liye kya kya karoge tum?" asked Avantika as she pulled Taani towards her.

Sam walked in and held Taani who kept pointing fingers towards Rey trying to explain something.

"Kitne paise loge meri Beti se door rehne ke liye?"

Rey glanced at Avantika, "Dekiye, ap humse bohot zyada rich honge par muje apke paiso se kuch lena dena nai hai. Taani aur main.."

"Stop it!" interrupted Avantika, "Apne zaban se meri beti ka naam bhi lene ki aukat nai hai tumhari. Ek mamuli sa theatre chalate ho aur itni himmat ki meri beti ko fasa liya"

"Mom" screamed Taani as she staggered towards Avantika

"Taani stay out of this! Tumse toh main kal baat karungi" glared Avantika

"Mom" whispered Taani, "I love him"

Rey glanced at Taani. Did he just hear what she said. Is this even real. When did all of this happen? He was falling for her and here Taani already loved him. But since when? How did all of this happen? Rey needed answers. He wanted to confess his feelings. It was so unfortunate that both of them confessed their feelings abruptly and always in a messed up situation.

Rey's happy yet confused thoughts were distracted when suddenly Avantika slapped Taani right on her face,

"Avantikaji!!" yelled Rey as he tried to stand infront of Taani. "Ap mujse jo bhi kehna chahti hai kahiye. But please! Taani pe agli baar haath utaya toh..."

"Toh what?" Avantika took a step forward. "Dhamki de rahe ho muje? Agli baar agar meri beti ke aas paas bhi dikhe na... yeh mamuli sa theatre, jo tumhare dad ne itni mehnat se khadi ki hai, use girane se pehle main ek baar bhi nai sochungi. And you know I can do it."

Rey looked at Taani who was with her eyes shut, lying on Sam's shoulder. He loved her, as a fan, as a friend. But he loved his father too. Fighting for Taani meant hurting his dad, ending something that his father spent his whole life working for. Being with Taani meant ending her career. Nothing seemed right neither in the present nor the future.

Rey watched as Avantika dragged her inside the car. Taani who was pushing her mom's hands turned one last time and glanced at Rey, pleading him with her drunk eyes to take her away from this.

"Mom I love him Mom... Please"

That were the last words Rey heard before Avantika slammed the door and their car took off.

He stood near the stairs, where a few minutes ago he dreamt of living a life with Taani. A dream with a such a short span, it ended before it even began. A tear rolled down as he sat down. Cursing himself for falling for her. Repenting all kinds of feeling he felt for her. He always knew she was out of his league but he fell for her anyways. And now he'll never be able to tell her how much he loved her. He could never live the life he knew she wanted to live. He knows he might not have all the wealth in life. But Taani didn't need wealth. He knew what she wanted, she wanted freedom, love, simple happiness, family. Something Rey could give her in abundance.

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6 months later.

Taani sat in her vanity van as her hair dresser brushed her hair one last time.

"Taani, tumhara shot 5 min mein ready hone wala hai" said Sam as she walked inside the vanity.

Taani just glanced at her in the mirror and looked at Sam who looked guilty and sad. Taani took a deep breath in as the hair dresser walked out of the van.

"Fine. I'll be there" she said with a staright face.

Sam stood there and stared at Taani, "Taani please don't do this. Talk to me ya! I said I'm sorry job hi hua us din... I was just trying to save my job"

Taani giggled for a second, "Sam!! Tum kyu apne aap defend karne ki koshish karti ho? Don't do it"

Sam sighed, "Because you haven't forgiven me."

Taani couldn't take it anymore. She slamed her dressing table as she stood up, "Tum meri PA kum aur meri dost zyada thi Sam! Par tumne meri happiness ke pehle apni job ke bare mein socha!"

"Yaar...tumhari mom meri piche padi thi!! And you know your mom!! She can be very scary! Maine bohot koshish ki unhe samjhane ki uss raat tum Gautam ke saath ho but somehow she just wouldn't believe me. Finally unhone kaha agar main unhe sach nai bataungi toh wo muje naukri se nikal denge"

"Aur us bat ki saza muje aur Rey ko bhukatni padd rahi hai. The worst thing Is muje toh dhang se kuch yaad bhi nai ki kya hua tha. Tum log sirf itna bata rahe ho ki agar main usse mili toh mom unka theatre band karwa dengi. Par muje janna hai kya baat hui thi mere aur Rey bich mein. I need to know"

Sam stood in the room, while Taani sat on her seat again, "wo mera dost tha Sam. Muje acha lagta tha uske saath time spend karna"

"I am sorry Taani but..."

Frustrated Taani took a deep breath in, "Mom chahti hai ki main unke ishaaro pe chalu right? Fine..."

Taani stood and walked towards her, "Abse woi karenge jo wo chahti hai. Kal kya kaha tha mom ne? Ki Gautam se dosti badhao right?? Chalo...aaj tum ek dinner plan karo...main aur Gautam shoot ke baad dinner ko jayenge."

"Taani you don't have to do this..apne career pe focus karo and..."

"I said plan a dinner... tum ek PA ho Sam...meri dost nai..So advise dene ka koi haq nai tume..sirf mere orders follow karo..."

"You've changed Taani"

Taani glanced at Sam one last time as she grabbed her script and walked out of the vanity van. It did hurt her, talking to her best friend in that tone. But Sam deserved it. Had she not brought her mother to theatre that night, Taani and Rey would still be friends, or maybe even more than friends by now. But it all ended in one shot of which Taani remembers nothing.

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