#1 TaaRey FF - Vivah - a journey from engagement to marriage...Moved#2 - Page 80

"You do remember us. I assumed you blocked us out as well." Purvi taunted at Taani over skype.

"Sorry I was busy." Taani apologized.

"Doing what? Ignoring him?" Purvi asked sarcastically.

"I don't want to talk about him." Taani replied non-chalantly.

"He hasn't stopped asking about you." Purvi informed.

"Can we please not talk about him?" Taani pleaded.

"Yeah please! It's hurting my ego! All we ever talk about is him!" Arjun groaned dramatically making Taani giggle.

"Okay then let's talk about the guy you met on the subway. Did you find out his name?" Purvi smirked.

"What guy?" Arjun questioned.

"Two days ago she met a guy on her way home in the subway who was in the wrong train and since she was the only Indian he saw, he asked her the route. He got down at the next station, but in that amount of time she learnt the name of his university and the area he lives in. Also, she couldn't stop mentioning how cute he was and wished that she had asked him his name." Purvi narrated.

"It was an impulsive reaction." Taani rolled her eyes.

"Was travelling all the way to the station he told you and roaming on the streets also impulsive?" Purvi mocked.

"You did not!" Arjun was shocked.

"I was in a bad mood. I met a stranger and I wished I wasn't tied down in a relationship. That's the jist of it. The very next day I felt like a complete idiot." Taani explained.

"You can still end it and go stranger hunting." Arjun suggested.

"Why are we talking about him again?" Taani sulked.

"Because from the past few days he has been pestering us about you." Arjun told her.

"Fine! I'll unblock him and text him that I'm in New York." Taani sighed.

"You don't have to. We can do that for you." Purvi smiled at her.

"No, I will. I can't keep ignoring him forever." Taani replied.

"Good. So, now can you tell us what exactly happened?" Arjun asked.

"Not yet."

"Thought so." Arjun pouted.

"Listen, I gotta sleep. Siddo and I are going sightseeing tomorrow."

"Bye. Enjoy." Purvi ended the call.

"Thanks a lot for this. I just had to know that she was fine." Rey thanked Arjun and Purvi as soon as the call ended.

"You were miserable. You left us with no other choice." Arjun chuckled.

"She literally vanished and I had no means to contact her. Shivam aur aunty are completely normal with me which made me even more terrified as I couldn't ask them anything about Taani." Rey rubbed his forehead.

"Haan voh ghar pe bolke gayi hai ki usne tumhe bataya hai about her last-minute trip to New York." Purvi explained.

"When is she returning?" Rey asked.

"Sometime next week." Purvi answered. "It may sound cliched but go to pick her up. She'll feel good." She further added.

"I will." Rey smiled and left the canteen.

"If it was some other guy in his place, I would have beaten the shit out of him." Arjun commented. "Aur tujhe kyu itni charbi chadi thi to ask about that subway guy?" He further questioned.

"I just wanted to see his reaction. There were signs of jealousy!" She smirked.

|| Two Weeks Ago ||

"St. Louis College." Taani's voice kept ringing in Rey's head.

"What do you think?" Sharon asked. "Rey?" She shook him when he didn't answer.

"Huh?" He asked dazed.

"The dress! Should I wear it?" She asked.

"It's not your first date. Wear any damn thing!" Rey rolled his eyes.

"I hate you!" She stomped.

"Whatever! I'm leaving." He got up.

"Wait." She stopped him.

"What?" He asked annoyed.

"Stop thinking so much. Just go and talk to her."

"You think I haven't tried?" He sighed. "Nahi ho pa raha yaar. Jab bhi bolne jata hoon toh lagta hai ki usse yeh na lage ki just because she went to St. Louis, I'm telling her everything. I'm scared Shar."

"Dekh, mein jaanti hoon ki tune bohot koshish ki hai usse sab batane ki but you couldn't as something kept coming in the middle."

"Exactly! Friday toh yeh news digest karne mein nikal gaya. Saturday ko we couldn't meet as aunty wasn't well. And it would have been rude to talk about all this at that time. Yesterday I tried, but she was busy every time I called her. Aur aaj.."

"Aur aaj voh jaake aa gayi hai. She knows something if not everything. You can't change that now. Just call her or better ghar chale ja uske." Sharon suggested.

...

"Oh hi Rey." Shivam greeted Rey at the door.

"Hi. Taani ghar pe hai?" Rey asked.

"Nahi voh Arjun ke ghar pe hai. Voh aaj uski koi trip thi na, wahan se seedha uske ghar gayi hai." Shivam informed.

"Oh!" Rey looked around nervously.

"Kuch kaam tha?" Shivam asked him.

"Haan. Nahi. I mean nothing urgent. I'll call her." Rey turned around to leave.

"You alright?" Shivam stopped him.

"Yeah. Can you please let Taani know that I want to talk to her?" Rey requested.

"Is everything alright between the two of you?" Shivam was worried now.

"Everything is fine Shivam." Rey smiled. "Just let her know that I stopped by." Rey left.

Shivam closed the door and came inside.

"He left. Now will you tell me what was all that was about?" Shivam asked Taani.

"I'm trying to figure it out myself." Taani plopped on the couch.

"I think we found something." Purvi and Arjun came out of her room.

"What?" Taani held her breath and braced herself for it.

"Two videos! What we heard today is true!" Arjun looked at Taani. She closed her eyes and let out the breath.

"What are you guys talking about?" Shivam stood there confused.

"Rey is a dancer. Or was a dancer. Anyways, dance was a big part of his life." Purvi answered.

"And?" Shivam was still unable to grasp the gravity of the situation.

"That's the whole thing. From what we learnt, he was very passionate about it. I don't understand why he has kept it a secret from me." Taani was hurt.

"Then ask him! And from where did you learn all this?" Shivam asked bewildered.

"He was a student at St. Louis College. The principal couldn't stop praising him. At first we thought that he might be someone else, but then we saw a photo in the rehearsal hall. It was him." Arjun informed.

"So? He liked to dance in college. How does all that matter now?" Shivam questioned. "And Purvi what are you looking at?" Shivam asked further when he found Purvi engrossed in the laptop.

"The video. I think I know why he didn't tell anything about all this." Purvi answered.

"What video?" Taani grabbed the laptop from her hand.

"This is their dance video at IndiaFest in Goa made by some fan. You can tell from the screams how popular they all were." Purvi pointed out while the video played.

The video was recorded by an audience member because of which the quality was low and their faces weren't clearly visible.

"They were good. But what does this video tell?" Shivam squinted at Purvi.

"Watch the second one." Purvi told and Taani clicked on it.

The dance team was on the stage. The emcee requested for a special dance for the audience form them. The crowd was chanting Rey's name. The song started and the chants increased. Taani could make out Sharon dancing in the front while Rey stood in the background. One of the girls got Rey to the centre for the chorus. He was enjoying dancing. The roar from the crowd increased. Rey danced surrounded by the girls. He then moved forward to engage with the crowd. Another girl pulled him towards her and flirted as the song played. The cheer increased ten folds. Taani recognized Swayam as he came in the centre when the male part of the song played. They danced for a little while and left the stage. Rey was seen almost hugging the same girl just before they exited.

"You see what I mean?" Purvi looked at Taani.

"That can't be true. He wouldn't lie to me about his past, would he?" Taani looked helplessly at Purvi.

"Stop planting doubts in her head Purvi!" Arjun yelled at her.

"I was just saying. They look close." Purvi defended herself.

"I am with Arjun on this. You girls are thinking way too much." Shivam sided with Arjun.

"Par bhai what if Purvi is right?" Taani asked with a shaky voice.

"Then it means that he had someone in his life in the past. Now he doesn't." Shivam explained.

"Then why did he lie to me? Why did he say that he had no one in his life?" Taani murmured.

"Taani, you're doing it again." Arjun said sternly.

"What?" Taani asked.

"Overthinking." Arjun pointed out. "Remember few years back you did the same thing when he had helped you when you were stranded in the middle of the road. You had no clue why he had waited until you were safe with Shivam. You kept assuming every worst scenario. But he was just trying to help."

"How can I be sure that he didn't lie to me about his past?" Taani asked, her voice sounding calmer than before.

"You can't be unless you talk to him." Shivam handed her her phone. "Call him."

...

"Hey." Rey opened the door. He greeted Taani and invited her into the house.

"Ghar pe koi nahi hai?" Taani asked looking around.

"Maa aur Paa Melbourne gaye hai. Muski is due next week." Rey informed.

"Sharon and Swayam?" Taani questioned.

"They live next doors. Why would they be here?" He questioned back and she smiled awkwardly at him.

"Bhai was telling that you had come to meet me yesterday." She settled down on the couch.

"Yeah. I wanted to talk to you about something." He said.

"Let me guess. D3?" Taani looked straight into his eyes.

"So you know." He broke eye contact.

"I can't believe you lied to me." Taani accused him.

"I won't call it a lie. I just kept a few things away from you. But trust me I was going to tell you everything. I was just waiting for the right time." Rey defended himself.

"So when exactly is this right time?" She scoffed.

"Taani." Rey moved closer to her.

"Don't!" She moved away.

"I have been wanting to tell you everything. But I didn't know if you would understand why I had to do what I did."

"You thought I wouldn't understand that you had a past. Is that how low you think I am?" Taani asked sternly trying her best to disguise her hurt. But her eyes gave it away.

"No. Not at all." He hugged her even though she resisted. "I just didn't know how to tell you. It isn't just my secret." He sighed.

"All this time you kept joking about me having someone in my past while you hid yours."

"What are you talking about?" Rey was confused now.

"You had a girlfriend in college and you denied of having any relationships in the past. Why did you lie?"

"Girlfriend? Who?" Rey asked bewildered.

"This one." Taani pulled out the video in her phone and paused at the girl she was mentioning.

"Where did you find this video?" Rey was genuinely surprised. "Can I?" He took her phone and watched the entire video.

As soon as that ended, the group dance video played. Rey watched it as well. He handed the phone back to her and wiped the moisture that clouded his eyes.

"Why are you crying?" Taani asked concerned.

"I'm seeing them after four years. It just got me emotional." He wiped his eyes dry and composed himself.

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.." Taani felt bad.

"You didn't do anything. And to answer your question, Aashi wasn't my girlfriend. I didn't have any." He calmly replied.

Taani sat quietly for some time and observed him. She could tell that he wasn't lying to her. She was annoyed at herself for doubting him.

"Wait a minute, then what did you think that I wouldn't understand?" Taani asked as she recalled his words.

"About the dance part." He replied.

"What about it?" She asked and added. "By the way you guys were amazing. I mean that video isn't clear but I could tell that you guys enjoyed it a lot. Why haven't you mentioned about dance ever?"

"Because.. it's not easy talking about it. Not for me." He sighed and leaned back on the couch.

"Hey, it's okay if you don't feel like talking." Taani moved towards him and placed her hand on his.

"No it's your right to know this." He held her hand. "Especially as you still have to make the decision about us."

"That's not true." She squirmed.

"No it's good that you aren't rushing in and making sure if everything is right about me. I am not against it." He smiled at her.

"What can I say? You are an open mystery." She said avoiding eye contact.

"I hope you meant that as a compliment." He teased.

"I hope so too." She teased back.

"Well about D3, where shall I begin?" He started to open up. "We were a group of crazy dance enthusiasts. For us, dance came before everything. It was the one thing that we all wanted to do for the rest of our lives."

"So, how did you get past it? I mean office kyun join kiya?" She asked.

"I am not past it. In fact none of us are." He smiled.

"I don't understand."

"You remember when we first met and I had asked you what you wanted to do in life. You told me that you wanted to establish your name by working hard. Basically you didn't need any favors."

"Yeah. But what has that got to do with this."

"Nothing particular, but I knew that if there was any girl that would understand me, it would be you. Because what you want to do in your life is what I am doing myself. And I guess it's why I said yes to our relationship."

"But what does working in your company has to do with your dance?"

"A lot actually!"

"I'm all ears." She smiled encouragingly at him.

"In our final year of college we were a complete mess as none of us had a clue about our future. That was when a talent company came looking to hire us. They wanted to launch us."

"And you refused them?" Taani was shocked.

"We were desperate but not so much that we sold ourselves to them. They wanted to launch us but under a person. Like we would be his team of choreographers. Basically mehnat hum kare but end mein naam sirf uska hoga."

"But isn't that how things are? You have a boss and your work improves his reputation." Taani pointed.

"But your work gets recognized. Humara waisa kuch nahi tha. We just had to work under someone's shadow. Call it ego, but I didn't want to do that."

"I would say self-respect." She winked biting her lower lip to stop herself from grinning widely. She felt his eyes move to her lips and quickly composed herself. "Continue."

"Well.." he exhaled shifting his focus from her lips. "We declined that and a few other sponsors. We wanted things to be on our terms. That didn't happen and.."

"And that's how D3 dissolved." She completed for him.

"Temporarily." He half smirked at her.

"Matlab?" She eyed him.

"Matlab yeh ki we stopped looking for people to sponsor us and decided to sponsor ourselves."

"Is that why you joined the company?" She asked.

"Not just me. Sharon and Swayam as well." He answered.

"What about the others?"

"Most of them are in the Sydney School of Dance as dance instructors."

"Most?"

"Out of eleven, six are in SSD, three of us in SRS, one is a chef who started here and then shifted to Sydney and you've already met the last one."

"Who?"

"Remember the garage which Swayam suggested you?"

"Yeah, he told me to ask for Bharat and mention his name."

"He is the eleventh member."

"Why didn't he go to Sydney like others?"

"If there is anything Bharat loves as much as his dance is his garage." Rey chuckled.

"Yeh sab itna secret kyun rakha hai?"

"It's not a secret. Everyone in the family and friend circle knows. I just don't speak about it as it's my weakness. I convinced them to go separate ways because agar hum sab ek hi jagah hote toh I'm damn sure I would have convinced Paa to sponsor us."

"I take it back. You're not an open mystery, you are a complete mystery!" She exclaimed making him laugh.

"Let me explain," he started. "We had got fame and recognition in very less time which made us very.. egoistic. All that sponsor drama got us back to earth. Hume real duniya tabhi samjhi. Humne decide kiya ki hum break lenge and we'll build everything from scratch. Sharon and I didn't want ourselves to be associated with any other dance company so we refused SSD. Tabhi Bhai suggested for us to join office as he was leaving to Melbourne and Paa could use some help here. That's how Sharon and I landed in the office. Swayam followed."

"So you'll be leaving this and then starting your dance company?" She asked.

"Yup. The last project we three are working on right now is the dance academy. We are in literal terms building it from scratch." He informed.

"Your dream project?"

"Correct."

"You should call it a secret project." She chuckled.

"Idea bura nahi hai. Waise bhi yeh news end tak secret hi rehne wali hai." He too joined.

"I must commend you for it. It's been a year and you never spilled it out."

"Yeh St. Louis field trip nahi aati toh aur thode din tak yeh baat bahar nahi nikalti."

"So you were going to keep all this away from me?"

"Kuch dino mein toh sabko pata chalna hi hai na. So it wouldn't be ki engagement tak sab secret rehta."

"Matlab jab yeh news official hoti toh tum mujhe baki sab ki tarah batate?" She asked hoping to hear a no.

"Haan." He replied and she forced a smile on her face. "Not at a press conference obviously. Sometime before that."

"Good to know that." She forced a smile and checked her phone. "It's getting kinda late. Ghar pe late pahuchi toh bhai gussa karenge. I should leave."

"You sure? If you want I can drop you home later."

"I can drive Rey." She said sternly.

"I know luv." He smiled knowing that it would make her smile as well.

"Don't try to charm me!" She smiled rolling her eyes knowing exactly what he would say next.

"As you say luv."

...

"Hey, where have you been?" Rey asked over skype.

Taani had been avoiding his calls and messages since their last meeting. His words had hurt her. They made her feel that she had no importance in his life.

"I'm busy studying. Finals are starting from Monday."

"I know that. Par messages ka toh reply kar deti. You got me worried there."

"Sorry. The three of us were completely engrossed. And I still am. So time pass ke liye phone kiya hai toh bye."

"Wait, wait, wait!" He stopped her from ending the call.

"What?"

"I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to Melbourne for a week. So we'll meet after your exams."

"To see Muskaan?"

"Yeah. I just can't sit here and wait for her to birth my niece. I need to be there."

"I understand." She smiled.

"All the best for your exams. Do really well if you wish to continue working in SRS." He chuckled.

"Thanks and bye. Take care."

"You too. Bye."

Rey left for Melbourne. Muskaan delivered a baby girl. Meanwhile, Taani had blocked out Rey and was concentrating on her finals. But after they were done she was unable to shake their conversation out of her head. She needed time to clear her head and come to a decision. So before Rey arrived, she decided to leave. One of her cousin brothers was in New York and his birthday was coming up. This gave her a perfect excuse to travel there. She didn't tell anyone at home her reason for going to New York. Rey was unable to contact her since her exams started. When he came back to Mumbai, he learnt that she had gone somewhere and from what he gathered, he was supposed to know where she was. So he turned to Arjun and Purvi for help.

"Mumbai toh vapas aa gayi, par Rey ko kaise face karungi? I don't understand why am I afraid to meet him? He is the one who has taken me for granted. I haven't done anything." Taani deliberated as she walked out of the arrivals.

As she moved towards the exit, she spotted Rey standing at the gate. He waived at her. She went towards him.

"Kisiko pick karne aaye ho?" She asked.

"Hello to you too." He teased.

"Hi." She greeted dryly making Rey chuckle.

"To answer your question, haan mein kisiko pick karne aaya hoon."

"Kisse?"

"Tumhe." He grinned and she unknowingly smiled back.

"Why did you come? Arjun was supposed to be here."

"Aren't you happy that I'm here instead?" He teased.

"To be honest I'm not." She replied sternly.

Rey realised that something was definitely wrong. This sudden trip wasn't just for her cousin's birthday.

"Let's get you home. You must be tired." He said calmly. She agreed and followed him to the car.

The entire ride from the airport to her place was silent. Rey tried to initiate a conversation but Taani kept ignoring him. When they arrived at her place, she quickly got out of the car. Rey followed.

"I know that something has hurt you. But you giving me this silent treatment isn't going to help." He said handing over her bag.

Taani took her bag and started walking away from him.

"Taani wait." He stopped her. "At least tell me what's wrong?"

"I'm really tired right now, Rey."

"I understand. I'll leave then. But can we meet tomorrow?" He asked with hope.

"I'll come at your place if uncle and aunty haven't returned. I don't want them to worry." She replied.

"They are still with Muski." He confirmed.

"See you tomorrow then. Bye."

Rey came home and was going over the conversation they had where he opened up to her. He knew something related to his past had hurt her, but he couldn't point a finger at it. He fell asleep thinking about it.

It was late afternoon the next day and Taani had still not arrived. He was starting to worry when the bell rang.

"I thought you wouldn't come." He said opening the door.

"Well I wasn't planning to. But, I think that wasn't directed towards me." Sharon smirked at him.

"What are you doing here?" He sighed.

"Ghar pe akele bore ho raha hai." She pouted.

"Swayam?" He asked.

"Office! AB ne kuch kaam diya hai." She informed.

"Okay, but you aren't coming in." He blocked her way.

"What the hell?" She shouted.

"Shar please."

"What's wrong?" She asked hearing his serious voice.

"Taani.." Rey said.

"Taani?" Sharon was confused. "What's wrong with Taani?"

"Idiot! She's behind you!" Rey pointed at Taani.

"Oh, hi Taani." Sharon turned around and greeted her.

"Hi." Taani smiled at her.

"Kahan gayi thi yaar tu? Pata hai yeh kitna pagal ho gaya tha. Isse laga ki tu isko ignore kar rahi thi." Sharon swatted Rey on his head. "He thinks too high of himself."

"Shar please." He repeated.

"Alright I'll leave. Sadu." Sharon muttered and left.

"So, how was New York?" Rey asked once they settled in the living room.

"Starting to get cold there, but it was a fun little.. break."

"Taani I.. I know that something I said or didn't say has hurt you and I'm genuinely sorry for it. I know I should have told you about everything, but I.. I.."

"You were looking for the right time."

"Yeah." He nodded.

"And then you realized that I might learn about it from someone else so you decided that it was the right time to tell me everything. Correct?" She asked with clenched jaws.

"That's not how it was. I agree that at first I didn't think it was this big a deal to share this with you. But then bhai made me understand that it should be. I realized it long back that I wasn't being as open with you as you were with me. I just kept avoiding it as I knew I would get weak. D3 for me isn't just a dance team or group of friends, D3 is an emotion, a feeling which is very hard to shake. Because of this for the last four years I haven't visited Muski as I knew that if I went to Melbourne, I would somehow end up in Sydney. And if I meet them, I would do anything to get us back together. Forget Australia, yahan Mumbai mein inn chaar saalon mein I haven't met Bharat for the same reason." His eyes were moist.

"I'm not accusing you of not telling me, Rey. It's your life and you get to decide who you share it with. I'm just hurt because even almost a year later, you don't consider me important enough to share all this with me."

"You are important to me." He held her hand in his. She didn't oppose. "What made you think you are not?"

"When I asked you the other day if you would have shared everything with me if it wasn't for the field trip, you said no. Mujhe probably baki sab ke jaise pata chalte. After hearing that what else could I think."

"I said that?" He was surprised. "I'm so sorry. I was so overwhelmed with all the memories that day."

"You say you don't remember. But those were your words and they have hurt me. I don't think we should.."

"Please don't complete that." He interrupted her. "I know I haven't been open with you, but please give me another chance before you make up your mind and tell me your decision. Please?"

"Okay." She nodded.

"Thank you."

They sat in silence for some time. Later Rey caught Taani fidgeting with her fingers and opening and closing her mouth.

"Go ahead. Ask what you want to." He smiled at her.

"You know me so well." She smiled back. "I was just wondering what D3 stands for?"

"Dil. Dosti. Dance. The three most important D's in our lives. I believe Swayam had come up with this name."

"That's so simple yet it had such a deep meaning to it."

"Can you give me your phone? I'll show you every member of our gang."

"My phone?" She squinted.

"Mere phone mein Facebook nahi hai. I have stopped using it since we parted."

She opened the application and searched for his account.

"My account is private?" Rey said in disbelief. "Wait I'll get my laptop." He got up.

The doorbell rang and his nose flared up in anger.

"I swear I'm going to kill her some day!" He gritted his teeth making Taani giggle.

"Open the door before she actually kills you." Taani giggled more referring to Sharon.

"Wait, it's not latched." He realized. "It's open." He shouted.

The door flared open and a girl came running in and hopped into Rey's arms. The impact made him fall back on the couch. Rey broke the hug and looked at her with wide open eyes.

"Ghoor kya raha hai? I'm here in flesh!" She grinned at him.

"And so are we!" Six other voices came from the door.

Rey sat wide eyed in his place. On getting no reaction from him, the girl in his lap pinched him hard.

"Simmi!" He cried in pain.

"There you go." Simmi grinned at him.

"Simmi uski godi se uthegi? Hume bhi milna hai." One of the boys said.

"Nil." Rey said sternly.

"When will you stop taking her side?" Nil complained.

"Never!" Rey got up and went to them. One by one he hugged everyone.

"What are you guys doing here?" Rey asked.

"Tujhse milne ka mann kiya toh aagaye." Simmi grinned.

"Rey why is your door wide ope.." Sharon stood still on seeing everyone.

As her mind registered their presence, she shrieked and ran to hug them.

"I can't believe you guys are here!" She shrieked more.

"Shar!" Rey shouted covering his ears making everyone laugh.

"Who is this beautiful lady?" Nil asked as he spotted Taani.

"Control yourself Nil. You wouldn't want to upset Rey by flirting with his girl now, would you?" Sharon teased.

"What?" They all said at once.

"You're dating?"

"Yes Vicky, he is." Sharon grinned.

"Tu wahin hai na jo kuch mahine pehle mere garage aayi thi?" Bharat asked as he registered Taani's face.

"Haan." Taani meekly replied.

"Meko toh ussi din shaq ho gaya tha. Yeh apne bhai ke saath baat kar rahi thi aur meine Rey ka naam suna tha." Bharat added.

"Yeah I'm dating. Stop making it a big deal now." Rey squirmed.

"But it is!" Vicky exclaimed.

"Shar, you are so dead!" Rey gave Sharon the death glare.

"Usko baadmein maarna. Pehle apni girlfriend ko introduce to karwa sabse." Nil smirked and forwarded his hand to Taani. "Hello beautiful, I'm Nilesh. You can call me Nil."

"Taani." Taani said timidly and shook hands with him. He planted a kiss on the back of her hand.

"Okay there," Rey intervened. "Stop flirting with my girl."

Taani couldn't help but feel awe when Rey called her his girl.

"Taani its okay if you don't remember them or their names or voluntary decide to forget them but these are my friends; Simmi, Rinni, Nilesh, Amar, Bharat, Neha and Vicky." He introduced them individually and then squinted at them. "Where's Aashi?" He asked when he realized that she was missing.

"Ooo Aashi!" Nil and Vicky smirked at each other.

"Gimme the beat guys!" Nil looked at them and they obliged. "Rey ka raha Aashi ka intezaar, kaise ho gaya yeh chamatkaar. Zara phone toh lagao Aashi ko mere yaar." Nil looked at Vicky.

"Phone busy hai, baat kar raha hoga uska yaar." Vicky completed.

"Yaar?" Rey squinted.

"Rey tu sad ho na mere yaar, Kyunki Aashi ko hogaya hai kisi aur se pyaar!" Nil completed his rap.

"Really?" Rey confirmed.

"Yes, she has a boyfriend. And they are celebrating their anniversary. So, she'll be coming after a few days." Neha informed.

"Kya Rey, apni girlfriend ke saamne apni ex ke baare mein puch raha hai? Thodi toh sharam rakh." Amar smirked.

Rey facepalmed while Taani just stood there with an awkward smile. She was meeting seven new people at once. She was feeling very uncomfortable with their eyes on her.

"Grow up guys!" Rey rolled his eyes.

"Tu humse theek se mila bhi nahi hai aur tujhe Aashi ki padi hai. Humari koi value hai?" Bharat asked dramatically.

"Koi value nahi hai isse. Pichle chaar saalon mein ek baar bhi baat ki hai isne tum sab se? Nahi na?" Sharon asked and they all said no. "See I told you. He doesn't care."

"Stop troubling him." Simmi took his side. "Rey, I know that you love us. Don't listen to them."

"Simmi abh toh try marna chod. Abh toh uski girlfriend bhi hai." Nil taunted.

"You're disgusting!" Simmi stormed off.

"Seriously Nil?" Rey eyed him and followed Simmi to make sure she was fine.

"Nil that was really bad." Rinni commented.

"I know I said too much. But iss sab mein galati ussi ki hai." Nil stubbornly sat on the couch.

Taani looked at him wide eyed. Sharon laughed seeing her expressions.

"Don't worry Taani. Yeh inn dono ka saalon se chalte aaya hai. You'll get used to them fighting over anything and everything." Sharon giggled.

"Forget all this, Sharon explain ki yeh sab kabse aur kaise?" Neha asked pointing at Taani.

"Sach bolu toh approximately chaar saal se." Sharon smirked.

"Whaaat?" Vicky squinted.

"Sharon!" Taani looked at her in disbelief.

"Did you guys not meet one night on a stranded road?" Sharon explained.

"That was barely a meeting." Taani argued.

"Okay fine. They've been going out for a year now." Sharon informed.

"Rey! Saale neeche aa!" Vicky shouted.

"No wonder it's so loud in here. Tum sab jo tapak pade ho." Swayam commented from the door.

"Arre Swayam baba aayiye. Aap hi ki kami thi." Nil joined his hand and greeted him.

"Nil you had a good sense of humour. What happened bro?" Swayam mocked.

"f**k off!" Nil scoffed. "Rey! We're waiting." He shouted.

"Wait quietly please." Rey came back.

"Simmi kahan hai?" Rinni asked.

"She's gone to freshen up. Aur tum sab ko bhi jana chahiye. Its smelling bad here." He held his nose making a disgusted face.

"I'm calling dibs on Rey's room." Nil said picking up his bag.

"No, no, no, no, no. My room is off limits." Rey stopped him. "Simmi and Rinni will stay in the guest room. Neha and Vicky can stay with Sharon and Swayam and you two idiots can go at Bharat's place."

They all stared at Sharon and Swayam when Rey finished.

"I know it's hard to believe, but they are dating!" Rey smirked.

"Kiski story pehle sune?" Vicky asked Nil.

"Kisiki nahi." Rey said sternly. "Abhi agar tum sab yahan se nahi gaye toh mein sabko wapas Sydney bhej dunga. Waise bhi bohot jaldi tapak pade ho tum sab."

"We'll do as you say Rey." Rinni agreed and walked to the guest room.

"What are you guys waiting for?" Swayam asked the rest.

"His highness to throw us out." Vicky pointed at Rey.

"Teri toh!" Rey threw a pillow at Vicky which he swatted away and it hit Taani.

"Ouch!" Taani cried as it hit her face.

"Oops!" Vicky commented.

"Chalo chalo niklo sab. Iske pehle yeh sachme hume wapas bhej de, niklo sab ke sab." Nil pushed everyone out of the house and closed the door. He picked up his bag and started to move upstairs.

"Where are you going?" Rey asked him.

"I called dibs on your room, remember?" Nil replied and went upstairs.

"Wow!" Rey sat down on the couch next to Taani. "Am I imagining stuff? You saw them right?" He asked her.

"Yes I did." Taani giggled.

"Sorry about that pillow." He apologized.

"It's fine." She hushed him. "Also I think I should leave. I'm sure you want to spend some time with them."

"You don't have to leave. You can stay."

"I know. But I want you all to spend some quality time together. More importantly I don't want to be the awkward odd one out."

"As you say."

"Okay then. Good bye." She got up.

"Taani?" He called.

"Hmn?"

"I know I haven't been the perfect boyfriend but please give me a chance to do good by you. That's all I'm asking."

"I'll think about it." She winked at him and quickly left leaving him smiling at her retreating figure.

(Scroll down)

"What are you looking at?" Purvi asked Taani.

Taani was engrossed in her laptop. Taani had requested Purvi to stay at her place for a few days.

"Rey added me on Facebook. I'm just.."

"Stalking?" Purvi interrupted and smirked.

"Looking through his profile." Taani squinted at her in return.

"So what did you find?"

"He feels like a completely different person in these posts." Taani stated.

"To be fair, that was four years ago." Purvi pointed.

"Yeah, it's just that he shared almost everything here."

"And now he finds it difficult to open up. Is this where you're going?"

"He did agree to that." Taani defended herself. "And honestly I don't think he has ever told me anything unless I have asked about it."

"He has asked for a chance, right? Give him. Apne flaws ko accept karne wale bohot kam log hote."

"Why are you suddenly on his side?"

"I'm not picking sides. I saw how helpless he was when you were gone. He didn't stop convincing us until we agreed to tell him your whereabouts. So I know he is worthy of you."

"He is caring and loving and I like that about him but he's keeping things from me and lying to my face. How am I supposed to ignore that?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Aashi."

"I shouldn't have said anything."

"It isn't your fault. Look at this." Taani pointed at a post.

"Can she get any sexier than this?" Purvi read the caption. "Wow! Who is she?" She was amazed watching the small snippet that Rey had posted.

"That's Aashi." Taani informed.

"He must be praising her dance."

"So I thought. Read the comments. Each one is calling her his girlfriend. Yet when I asked him, he lied to my face and I believed him."

"Taani.." Purvi tried to console her.

"That's just not it." Taani showed several other photos and videos which had the same type of comments.

"Maybe we are just making assumptions."

"Maybe. I don't know." Taani shut her laptop. "I told him that I will give him a chance but am I really willing to do that?"

"I can't answer that for you, Taani."

"Then answer this, do you think I should let his past affect me so much?"

"No, you shouldn't. Because he is clearly over his past, if he had any."

"And what about everything else?"

"I had read this somewhere and it has stuck in my head ever since. Without communication, there is no relationship. Without respect, there is no love. Without trust, there is no reason to continue." Purvi smiled and continued. "So, the real question here is, do you trust him?."

"Yes?" Mansi looked at Taani, Purvi and Arjun standing in her cabin.

"We wanted to ask you something." Arjun said.

"Go ahead."

"When should we stop by to collect our certificate?" He asked.

"Letter." She corrected.

"Yeah that. Since today is our last day, when should we come and collect the letter?" Taani asked.

"If you guys are willing to wait, then I'll get it ready by today evening." Mansi informed.

"Manas!" Rey barged into her cabin.

"The door is for you to knock." She glared at him.

"No time for that. Is it ready?"

"You sent it to me an hour ago."

"And told you personally that it's urgent. Bhai will bury me alive if he doesn't get it on time."

"Not my problem. You had forgotten about it. Don't blame me."

"Manas please." He pleaded.

"Taani was working with you on this right. Ussi se changes karwa lo." Mansi suggested.

"Taani?" Rey looked at her.

"What's going on?" Taani was confused.

"I'll explain on the way to my cabin." Rey escorted her out.

"So, how am I supposed to help you?" Taani asked once they were in his cabin.

"Yeh cabin ke new design mein bhai ko kuch changes karwane hai." He informed.

"Isn't this your cabin?" She questioned.

"For now, yes." He answered.

"So he is going to shift back here?"

"This is our head branch. Aur CEO toh yahin se kaam karega na?"

"How did uncle make his decision? I mean you, Sharon and Swayam equally deserve it right?"

"None of us wanted to be here let alone manage the entire company. But even if we were, I don't think we could match bhai. He completely deserves it."

"I'm not saying he doesn't. I was just curious."

"I know. You don't need to justify yourself." He smiled at her.

Rey explained her what all changes were needed to be done and Taani started immediately. He got busy with his own project. After about an hour or so she was done making the necessary changes. She glanced up and saw Rey who was completely engrossed in the monitor in front of him.

"Staring at someone for so long is not considered good manners." Rey looked at her and she looked away. "But I don't mind. You can continue." He added making her blush.

"I should leave. Waise bhi I'm done."

"Rey!" His cabin door barged open.

"Aashi? Tu kab aayi?" Rey eyed her.

On hearing Aashi's name Taani started to pack her things as slowly as possible.

"Abhi just pahuchi. Mujhe laga tu airport pe receive karne aayega mujhe." She hit him on his arm.

"Tune bola thodi tha ki tu aane wali hai. Agar bolti to bhi mein nahi aata." He chuckled earning another hit.

"Don't try to act smart aur chal." She pulled on his arm.

"Kidar?" He stopped her.

"Jahannum!" She glared at him.

"Tere ghar jaane ka koi interest nahi hai mujhe. And I have some work to complete."

"Don't be a bore. Tere wajah se sab ke sab ghar pe pade hai." She complained.

"Kisne kahan tha itni jaldi aane? I was going to inform you all when our work was done, remember?" He mocked.

"And this work was to be completed a year ago." She mocked back at him.

"Rey, I've emailed you the new file." Taani interrupted their banter and she got up to leave.

"Taani, wait." Rey stopped her.

"Hmn?"

"I wanted you to meet Aashi. Aashi this is Taani, my girlfriend and Taani this is Aashi." He introduced the two.

"Your ex?" Taani asked.

"Tune isko yeh bataya?" Aashi asked Rey.

"Tune apna wala jo hai usse kya bataya?" Rey squinted.

"Meine kahan kuch bataya. Voh kaam Vicky aur Nil ne kiya."

"Same here." Rey shook his head.

"Oh how stupid of me," Aashi hit her head and turned towards Taani. "Nice to finally meet you Taani. Jabse yeh log Mumbai aaye hai tabse tumhare baare mein bohot suna hai. I just have one question, tumhe yeh pagal hi mila tha?" She giggled.

"Aisa kuch nahi.." She smiled awkwardly.

"Just kidding. Isse better insaan tumhe poori duniya mein nahi milega."

"Wow Aashi! That's the nicest thing that you've ever said to me." Rey was surprised.

"Matlab mere I love you ki koi value nahi thi?" She asked dramatically.

"You guessed it right." He smirked.

"I should leave." Taani excused herself as her phone rang.

"Send Purvi in for 5 minutes." Rey informed on her way out.

"You called me?" Purvi entered. She saw Rey working at his table while Aashi sat on it with her back towards the door.

"Swayam has sent you some work." Rey informed Purvi.

"I told him that I wouldn't be able to complete both in a day."

"I know it's your last day, but please. At least just do the smaller one now. We'll manage the other one." He pleaded.

"Yahin pe khatam kar doon? That won't take long." She asked. He nodded.

"So tell me about Taani." Aashi asked Rey.

Purvi looked up to see Rey looking back at her and quickly broke the eye contact.

"What about her?" Rey asked cautiously. Last thing he wanted was for Aashi to say something inappropriate about Taani in front of Purvi.

"I mean I heard how you guys met and stuff. But imagining you agreeing to marriage let alone arrange marriage is weird." Aashi replied.

"Get used to it then."

"No but seriously, why her?"

"What do you mean why her?"

"I mean she is just out of college, isn't she too.."

"Young?" Rey completed her question and answered. "I don't think she is. I mean she is way more mature than all of us combined." He joked.

"Only if he knew how naive and stupid she is when it comes to him." Purvi thought.

"Our combined maturity levels run in minus, so I give her that." She chuckled. "But honestly, is she good?"

"Aashi?" He looked at her in disbelief.

"Mere kehne ka matlab hai ki uspe koi family pressure toh nahi hai na to get married. You know like raised by a single parent n stuff."

"Let me clear out one thing, our mothers are like best friends. So you can let go of those assumptions."

"Sorry." She placed her hand on his. "Don't get mad at me now. I was.."

"I know what you meant. Next time just prefer talking in private." He looked past her to Purvi.

"Oops. Is it a secret in the office?" Aashi whispered.

"Why are you whispering now?" He rolled his eyes.

"Hey, its Purvi right?" Aashi turned to her. "As this is your last day, can you like take this gossip home with you and not tell anyone? Thanks." Aashi turned back to Rey who was laughing.

"Purvi, sorry about her." He smiled at Purvi.

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me." She winked.

"Are you done?" Aashi huffed after a while.

"Haan meri maa. Uh Purvi?" He glanced over at her.

"I'm done as well." She smiled and got up. "See you soon." She left.

"A penny for your thoughts." Arjun asked Taani.

Arjun and Purvi had managed to drag Taani out of her house and into a club. Taani had been distancing herself away from Rey but she wasn't completely avoiding him. She answered his calls but never called him by herself. They hadn't physically met since their run in at the office.

"If anyone literally gave me a penny for all the thoughts I've going on in my head, I'd be a millionaire." Taani sighed.

"You seem to have made up your mind. Why are you troubling yourself by going over it again and again?" Purvi asked.

"Because I don't know if it is the right decision to make."

"I'm calling a FriendTervention right now!" Arjun banged his hand on the table.

"Did she make you watch Sex and the City?" Taani eyed him.

"Yes. But that's not important." He banged the table again. "I am serious. No more Rey talks for the rest of the night. We are out here to enjoy and so we will."

"I agree with him." Purvi agreed.

"Alright, I won't talk about him anymore."

Just as Taani finished her sentence, Rey entered the club followed by all his friends. They occupied the table next to the one where Taani, Arjun and Purvi were seated. Both the tables were separated by a thin ply of wood which was tall enough so no one could see each other.

"Speak of the devil." Arjun groaned when he saw him enter.

"Dheere." Taani hushed him. "I don't want him to know that I'm here."

"Tune SSD kyu choda?" Rey asked Simmi.

"It felt too much of a burden. Plus, I wanted to try DJing." She replied.

"How did that go?" Swayam asked.

"She was awful! The only good thing was that we got free passes to clubs thanks to her." Nil chuckled.

"Can you ever say something nice to me?" Simmi groaned.

"Enough you two!" Neha scolded them.

"Okay mom." Nil joked.

"Nil, stop being so grumpy." Rinni said.

"You forced me to cancel my tinder date. Sorry for being grumpy about it." Nil scoffed.

"Let this annoying person go. At least we'll be able to have fun." Simmi was annoyed.

"Haan matlab mere jaane ke baad tu apni item ko yahan bulayega. Abh toh mein kahin nahi ja raha." Nil squinted.

"Item?" Taani murmured to herself.

"Firstly, calm the f**k down. I'm not going to call her here regardless of your presence. I don't think she is ready to meet all of you." Rey said.

"Not ready ka kya matlab hota hai? Hum thodi usse khane wale hai?" Aashi scoffed.

"Bharosa thodi hai tum sab ka." Swayam joked.

"Toh phir tu apni item se kab milwa raha hai?" Vicky asked.

"Apni item se mein.. abbey!" Rey glared at him. "Mein tum sab ko Taani se milwaunga, but not here. I don't want her to run away!" He exclaimed.

"Enough talking about Taani already." Sharon groaned.

"Oh, are you jealous?" Nil asked her.

"Why would I be jealous?" Sharon raised her brows.

"Because now Rey has some other girl in his life apart from you." Nil smirked.

"I don't have to compete for a place in his life. I will always be a part of it. Whether he likes it or not, he's stuck with me." Sharon smirked back.

"Aashi any comments on that?" Vicky asked slyly.

"Can you guys just stop already?" Rey sighed.

"Exactly. We were together for hardly four months. It's been four years now. When will that get old?" Aashi asked.

"They were together?" Purvi whispered to Taani.

"Like I said, he makes it hard for me to trust him." Taani smiled sadly at them.

"But you do, right?" Arjun asked and she just shrugged.

"Okay sorry, we'll cut down on teasing you two. But now can we go and dance? I'm bored here." Nil pouted and they all went on the dance floor.

While dancing, Rey's eyes fell on Taani and his lips curved into a smile. She unknowingly reciprocated back. He started moving towards her but she signaled not to. He nodded and went the other way to the bar. He ordered a drink for himself which Simmi came and snatched out of his mouth. He glared at her and ordered another one for himself.

"Guys I'll be back." Taani announced to Arjun and Purvi.

"I'm worried about her." Arjun told Purvi and she agreed with him.

Rey saw Taani approaching him. His smile grew wide. He kept his drink aside and started walking towards her.

"I never thought I'd be seeing you here today, luv." Rey went in for a hug.

"Me neither. Arjun and Purvi dragged me here." She awkwardly hugged him back. He felt the awkwardness and separated quickly.

"It's good to see you after so long."

"Rey, I wanted to talk.. tell you something." She hesitated.

"And what would that be?"

"I, uh." Taani stopped and looked around.

"Ten, nine, eight.." People around had started counting down.

They both looked awkwardly at them and just shrugged.

"You were saying." Rey nudged.

"Seven, six.."

"I have been thinking a lot.." Taani started.

"Five, four.."

"And I have come to a decision." She looked him in the eye. "It's now or never." She thought as the countdown closed down.

"Three, two, one!"

"I want a break!" Taani closed her eyes and blurted out.

"Happy Birthday Rey!" His friends greeted at the same time.

Taani opened her eyes in horror and saw Rey trying to keep himself together.

"Excuse me." He left.

"Rey?" His friends shouted behind him but Rey blocked their voices out.

Taani's words were ringing in his ears. He got to his bike and sped off, not knowing where to go.

"Taani?" Purvi shook her.

Arjun and Purvi saw the entire scene unfold and rushed to her as soon as Rey left. They didn't need to ask her what her decision was. Purvi pulled her into a hug and she started crying.

"It's his birthday today. How could I do this?" Taani murmured.

"Where did he go? And why?" Vicky asked, muddled by Rey's sudden exit.

"He wouldn't just leave. There is something wrong." Sharon said looking at Taani.

"Taani?" Swayam followed her gaze. "Why are you crying? Did he say something?" Swayam asked her.

Hearing Swayam, Taani started crying even more. Purvi got her back to their table and offered her a glass of water. The rest of them followed them.

"Taani, did he say something?" Swayam asked again.

"No, he didn't. But I did." Taani looked at him.

"Taani, hume ghar jaana chahiye." Purvi said sensing everyone's eyes on Taani.

"What did you say to him?" Simmi questioned crossing her arms.

"Simmi don't." Sharon signaled her to stop.

"Rey left his birthday party without saying anything. And she was the last person he was talking to. I'm sure he left because of something she said." Aashi glared at Taani.

"Guys stop." Swayam tried calming his friends.

"Taani, don't listen to them. Look at me. Tell me what happened back there." Sharon held her hands in hers and squeezed them letting her know that she can trust her.

"I.." Taani inhaled sharply.

Arjun placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I broke up with him."

Sharon closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Good! Cause you're not worthy of him anyway." Simmi barked at Taani.

"Simmi." Rinni pulled her back before she could say anything more.

"You shouldn't have done it today." Sharon sighed.

"You chose the wrong day to break up with him." Swayam smiled sadly at Taani and tried to call Rey.

The bell rang and Sharon raised it up to Swayam. "It's with me."

"Great! Now where are we supposed to find him?" Swayam held his head.

"Let's just divide in groups and find him." Sharon suggested and got up.

"Sharon wait, I'm coming as well." Taani got up behind her.

"Taani, it's very late." Purvi tried to stop her.

"Tera hostel." Taani realized and continued. "You need to be there. You both go home. I'll go look for Rey." Taani instructed Arjun and Purvi.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

She nodded and left with Sharon and Swayam.

...

"Where do you think he is?" Taani asked cautiously.

"If you care so much about him, why did you even break up?" Sharon asked annoyed.

"Sharon." Swayam looked at her asking her to calm herself.

"Sorry." Sharon apologized.

"Taani, I know things weren't going well between the two of you. But why this break up? I really thought things were improving." Swayam asked.

"I thought so too. But every time I tried to trust him, he.. I don't know. It just didn't feel right." Taani replied.

"What?" Sharon asked. "What didn't feel right?"

"He kept so many things away from me and asked me to trust him. I did at first but then I couldn't just ignore everything." Taani answered.

"I should have talked to him." Swayam sighed.

"You really think he would have shared everything? For all I know, he thought their relationship was improving." Sharon comforted Swayam.

"That's his bloody problem. Unless and until he isn't drowning, he won't ask for help." Swayam hit the steering hard.

"What do you mean?" Taani asked.

"He likes to handle things on his own. He won't easily ask for help. But is always there to help, whether you ask or not." Swayam shook his head.

"He helped us a lot at the start of our relationship. But now when it's his turn, he wants to handle things on his own. Pehli baar saala ek serious relationship mein tha. He is going to be shattered." Sharon closed her eyes. "Where are you Rey?"

"I'm sorry. Meri wajah se.." Taani felt bad.

"You don't have to apologize for anything, Taani." Swayam smiled at her.

"Any luck?" Sharon asked over the phone.

"Nope." Simmi replied.

"Did you guys check his home?" Rinni asked.

"Why would he be.." Swayam started to ask when realization hit him. "Shit!"

"Thanks Rinni!" Sharon disconnected the call.

"How did I not think of it?" Swayam asked.

"Are you sure he'll be there?" Taani questioned.

"He better be there!" Sharon scowled.

As Swayam pulled inside the main gate he saw Rey's bike parked outside his door.

"Inform everyone that we've found him." Sharon ordered Swayam and went inside followed by Taani.

"Where are we going?" Taani asked when Sharon opened a door which led to the basement.

"One of his sanctuaries. This one is his personal sanctuary though." Sharon laughed.

As they moved down the stairs, they could faintly hear a song. Swayam held back Sharon, while Taani moved in the direction of the sound. She froze when she spotted Rey dancing with a blind fold tied around his eyes. His moves mesmerized her. She was so engrossed in watching him that she failed to hear the commotion coming down the stairs. All his friends entered the rehearsal hall breaking Taani's trance. As if on cue, they joined him. Rey removed his blind fold when he heard them and continued dancing with them. Taani hid herself behind the door and followed Rey's moves. It was difficult taking her eyes off him.

The song changed and they continued dancing. Rey noticed Taani standing at the door. As he approached her, their eyes met. Even though his lips were curved into a smile, his eyes expressed sadness. Taani rushed back up seeing him approach her.

"Taani wait." Rey ran behind her.

"I shouldn't be here." She avoided his gaze.

"But you are." He smiled.

"I just wanted to explain the reason behind my decision."

"You don't have to."

"Why are you being so nice to me? I spoilt your birthday and I already feel awful." She asked frustrated by his behavior.

"You didn't spoil it."

"But I did hurt you. Trust me that was never my intention."

"Yes I was hurt. But it was because I was expecting something else. In the past few days I really thought I was able to turn your decision around. I honestly thought that you had started loving me as well." He stopped immediately when he realized what he confessed.

Taani's head sprung his direction. He walked backwards still smiling at her with moist eyes which expressed what his heart felt. He turned around when he reached the door which lead to the basement and spotted Sharon grinning at him.

"Kyun! Ho gaya na?" She ruffled his hair.

"Eavesdropping is a crime Sharon." He said.

"It's not a crime knowing that my best friend has finally fallen in love!" She exclaimed.

"Oh my God!" Others yelled when the heard Sharon.

Swayam went to Taani and hugged her. "Thank you."

Taani stood numb on her place. She was unable to comprehend anything. She slowly gathered herself and left his home.

...

"Dekho, Taani aa gayi. Now you need to go and sleep. You still haven't recovered completely from the flu." Shivam instructed Tanya.

"Mumma aap itna tension kyu lete ho?" Taani went to her.

"Agar tum phone kar ke bata deti ki kidar ho toh itna tension nahi aata. Voh toh shukar hai Rey ne call karke bataya jab tum uske ghar se nikli. Tum batake nahi ja sakti thi ki aaj uska birthday hai aur tumhe late hoga ghar aane?" Tanya scolded her.

"Rey had called?" Taani did not hear anything after that.

"You okay?" Shivam shook her out of her thoughts.

"So, what surprise did you give him?" Tanya asked when she didn't answer anything.

"You wanted a better surprise." She remembered Rey's words from when he took her to Jodhpur on her birthday.

"What have I done?" Taani held her face and started crying.

"Baat kya hai Taani?" Tanya comforted her.

"What happened Taani? Did he say something?" Shivam asked.

"Why do you always presume that he is at fault? Mein bhi galati kar sakti hoon. And this time I have done something that can never be reversed." She cried more.

"Pehle shaant ho jao." Tanya rubbed her back. "Now tell me what happened."

Taani narrated everything from finding out about Rey's past to the reason for her going to New York and how she thought that Rey was lying to her about being in a relationship in the past.

"I could see the happiness on both Sharon and Swayam's faces. They were genuinely happy for him. I couldn't face him after knowing that he loves me, so I ran home." Taani ended.

"You misunderstood him and that is why you broke up. Explain that to him." Tanya patted her head.

"Why would he even want to talk to me?"

"Because he loves you. Even after you broke his heart, he courteously called to inform about your whereabouts to us. He knew we would be worried. If you really think that you made a mistake in breaking up with him. Tell him. There is still a chance that you win him back. Aise rone se koi problem solve nahi hogi." Tanya made her understand.

"You really think he would want me back?"

"You'll never really know unless you talk to him. I don't know what his decision would be but I'm sure he will listen to you if you try to talk to him."

"I need to go now." Taani got up and left.

"She was so confident about Rey at first. Abhi kya hua?" Shivam wondered.

"Pyaar hua." Tanya smiled.

"Matlab?"

"She still trusts him, there is no doubt in that. But due to the present circumstances, she is stuck in a war between her heart and her brain. Her mind is telling her to be vigilant, but her heart has fallen for him."

"If she loves him then why did she break up?" Shivam questioned.

"Because usne abhi tak yeh accept nahi kiya hai. She is holding herself back and listening to what her mind is telling her."

"I still don't understand why is she confused?" Shivam knotted his brows together.

"Jab tumhe pyaar hoga, tab tum samjhoge." Tanya ruffled his hair and went to her room. She slept peacefully knowing that Taani was in safe hands.

"Hello?" A sleepy Rey answered the phone.

"Sorry to disturb you this late, but has Taani left your place?" Shivam asked from the other side.

Rey woke up in a jolt hearing Shivam's worried voice.

"She left when I had called you hours ago." Rey informed.

"Haan par voh ghar aake phir se tumse milne nikli thi. It's been two hours since that. Aur voh uska phone bhi answer nahi kar rahi, which is why I called you." Shivam explained.

"She didn't come back here." Rey was worried now.

...

"I want to give us a chance"

"Mein ready hoon iss rishte ko aage badhaane ke liye."

"I'm your savior."

"You can ask me anything."

"You are important to me."

"I'm always here for you luv."

Rey's words kept ringing in her ears, as she sat starting at the sea.

"Whenever I needed you, you were always there for me. How could I forget all this even after I promised you that I would never end our relationship due to some petty misunderstanding? And even after everything that happened, why are you still nice to me? Why?" A tear rolled down her eye.

"Happy birthday Luv!"

"You wanted a better surprise."

"Even though we didn't know each other that well, you made my birthday special. And what did I do? I broke up with you on your birthday. When did I become so selfish? How did I become so involved in myself that I couldn't see your love..?" Her breath hitched as she recalled his words.

"I honestly thought that you had started loving me as well."

"Have I?" Taani stared at the moon hoping for answers.

...

"Kahan ho tum Taani?" Rey wondered as he sped his bike across the city.

"Hello Rey." Swayam called Rey.

"Mili?" Rey asked immediately.

"Not yet. Have you looked near Haji Ali?"

"Why do you think she would be there?"

"Voh aur papa wahan jaaya karte the, so probably.."

"I'm on my way."

Rey drove along the Haji Ali bay and spotted a dainty figure sitting in the dark. He drove to her and got off his bike.

"What are you doing here?" He asked as soon he was within hearing distance of her.

She turned back and looked at him. "Rey?" She questioned to be sure.

"Yes, its me." He sat next to her.

"Tum yahan?" She asked still confused by his presence.

"Tumhe dhund raha tha. Yahan akeli kyun baithi ho?"

"Tum mujhe kyun dhund rahe the?"

"Tum do ghanta se kahan ho iska kisi ko kuch ata pata nahi hai. Aur tum mujhe puch rahi ho ki mein tumhe kyun dhundh raha hoon?" He scoffed.

"Even after I hurt you, why do you care for me so much?" She asked holding back her tears.

"Because I love you dammit! I don't know since when, but I do love you."

"Rey yeh sab?"

"Please just let me. Mein jaanta hoon ki aaj tumhare dil mein mere liye pyaar nahi hai. Lekin mein yeh bhi jaanta hoon ki ek din hoga, zaroor hoga. And I will wait for that day. As I know ki voh din zaroor aayega. Just rely on my love for you today and say yes. Kyunki mera pyaar hum dono ke liye kaafi hai, Taani. Hum dono ke liye kaafi hai."

Hello everyone😃
I just hope that it was worth the wait. I don't know when I'll be posting next. Just hang in there, because I'm not discontinuing it for sure.

If you have any questions regarding the update, feel free to ask.

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