SECOND CHANCE
It had been five years since they had broken-up. Everything had been cleared ' their misunderstandings, their misconceptions. But things came hard in life. They had decided to mutually move apart. The career woman he had created in her now needed her own space, her own identity. They found it difficult to move together now. They had remained friends and had indulged in their own relationships but found the magic missing.
Rey was lying on the bed staring blankly at the ceiling fan. It was 3 a.m., but sleep still eluded him as he was totally bored. Life in London was nothing like he had envisaged.
Having nothing to do, his thoughts went to the awards dinner that was to be held next week, next Sunday more precisely. He looked forward to it. He and his team were doing great as professional dancers and why not? Given Sharon's leadership, his imagination and his and Swayam's knack of putting it beautifully into dance, his team were hitting the market. This time, they had been asked to bring a partner along to the function. And, he wanted to take along a woman ' beautiful, intelligent ' someone he would be proud to have beside him. After all Reyaansh Singhania had a reputation to keep.
With this his thoughts turned to Taani. She was now his best friend, someone who always made him feel special. She meant a lot to him and Rey loved her dearly. She was one of the few he knew who really understood him.
Taani was beautiful with long black hair and the deepest brown eyes. However, both of them had failed to give the time and attention they craved for three years back. And they had drifted away as their fame grew ' as a dancer and as a business woman. Now she had someone else, just like he had found someone. There was nothing that they could do as their career was more important. Now he had gotten over that relation too. However, three years down the line, given another chance Rey would definitely trade all he had just to be with her again.
"I can always call her, can't I?" he thought. And he suddenly sat up, grabbed his cell phone and looked for her number. "I hope his mobile number is still the same." Back in India he had called her often, but in London he had been too busy to do so. Moreover, he didn't want to disturb her.
Nervously, he dialed her number. The phone rang half-a-dozen times. He was about to put the receiver down when he heard a voice. Her voice.
"Hello?"
Rey paused unable to reply.
"Hello, who's this?"
"Hi Taani, how've you been?"
"Rey, is it you?"
"Yes sweets, it's me."
"You idiot! Where the hell were you all these days?"
"Am in London, Taani it feels wonderful to hear your voice again."
"I still can't believe it's you, how are you?"
"Fine, how are you and Shivam?"
"Am okay, about him am not sure, we split up some months ago. We did not love each other."
Rey's heart skipped a couple of beats.
"Taani, I'm so sorry to hear that", he lied.
Then Taani and Rey talked and talked. After an hour he went back to bed. He could not sleep for his mind was filled with long-forgotten memories.
The next day, Taani was woken with the thud of a mail in the letterbox. She went and picked it up. Eagerly, she opened it and read the letter.
It was from Rey.
I miss you loads. I will be attending a Dancer's Awards dinner next Sunday at the Royal Horseguards in London. I would love it if you accompany me. I have enclosed the invitation and a ticket for the flight on Saturday evening. Remember, I will be at the airport for you whether you decide to come or not. And, I don't want you to do something that you don't want to.
Love,
Rey
The week passed by very quickly. On Saturday morning Rey brought a stunning black dress for Taani and laid it on the bed next to a huge bunch of flowers, Red Roses.
"She will look lovely in this", he said to himself.
Rey hadn't slept much the previous night. He glanced at the watch nervously.
"Ten hours before I see her", he said to himself.
The remainder of the day dragged on and finally it was an hour to Taani's flight. Rey freshened up and left his apartment. He drove to the airport. The silver moon seemed to reflect its own pristine desire to be with her again. This time he wouldn't let her go anywhere. Life couldn't be better. He was been given a second chance at love!
Rey went and sat in the waiting area. The airport was busy. The flight was due in just 20 minutes at Terminal 12. Finally the announcement was made.
"Flight S222 from Newcastle has arrived at Terminal 12" was the announcement. That was Taani's flight.
Rey ran to the exit passage. The 10 minutes it took for all the passengers from Newcastle to appear seemed like eternity to Rey. Expectantly, he watched, what seemed like hundreds of people appear and his heart sank for he couldn't spot Taani.
At a distance, he saw a woman. She looked familiar. It was Taani and he rushed and hugged her. Taani too embraced him.
"Taani you don't know how much I needed to hold you again."
He took Taani, her cases and drove to a beautiful spot. Getting out of the car, as they stayed locked in an embrace; Rey looked at Taani's pretty face lit up by the moon.
"I love you Taani", Rey whispered.
"I love you too", pat came the reply. Rey had longed for those words for so long that a tear fell from his eyes. He told her about the Dancer's event.
"I want to show you off to the world my beautiful girl." And then he stroked her face and closed his eyes as their lips melted. She showered gentle kisses all over his face and he drifted into another world, when he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"Sir, can you lift your feet please?"
Rey realised that he had fallen asleep in the lounge chair. The cleaning lady was standing over him. The terminal was deserted. He looked at the clock. It was 1am. His Taani had not turned up. His fertile imagination had gotten the better of him again. Slowly and dejected, he left the airport.
Rey was heart-broken. Back in the apartment he sat dejectedly on the bed.
"What a bloody fool I was to think that she would come all this way to see me", he thought.
He looked at the roses and the evening dress he had got for her. His eyes were heavy. He wanted to sleep. He closed his eyes.
Sometime later Rey's sleep was disturbed by a loud knocking sound. He walked over to the drawing room. At the glass front door he saw the silhouette of a woman carrying two cases.
His heart started beating many times faster as he made his way to the door. As he opened the door, he saw Taani standing there. His Taani had come after all.
Smiling sheepishly, she said, "I missed the flight, so I drove down. I'm sorry. I hope you don't mind."
Rey just took her gently in his arms and held her close for the second time that night. As they embraced, Taani softly whispered in his ear, "I couldn't let you down Rey. I wanted this to happen such a long time back."
Rey closed her mouth with a kiss that seemed to last for an eternity.
"Please, please don't be a dream for I would die if it was one."
Taani's kisses reassured him that it was really her.
And as the 2 lovers moved into the apartment, they forgot all about the world as they became busy rediscovering themselves and the undying love for each other.
Thank you for reading it. This was my first attempt to write a story. Hope you all liked it.
Love,
Avni
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