Chapter Ten "Kya hua dude? Urgent kyun bulaya?" asked Rey coming into the projector room.
"Competition ki dates change ho gayi hai. Its next week" informed Swayam while Rey, Taani and Sharon stood there in shock.
Rey recovered from his shock and said, "Let's not panic! Kal se serious rehearsals start karte hai."
"But kal toh holiday hai!" replied Taani.
"Ya, Taani's right. Toh hume parso se kaam pe lag jana chahiye" said Sharon.
"What parso? Kal bhi toh kar sakte hai" said Swayam.
"We have one whole week. Tu tension kyun le raha hai. Parso se bhi we can start" said Rey.
"But.." Swayam tried opposing but was cut by Sharon.
"Majority wins. Hum parso se start karenge!" said Sharon.
"Majority kaha hui?" asked Swayam.
"Hui na. Rey, Taani and me!" Sharon snapped back.
Swayam turned towards Taani and asked, "Tum kiske side ho?"
"I think parso se start karna better hoga" said Taani giving a weak smile to Swayam.
"Haa..Majority humari ho gayi" said Rey teasing Swayam.
"Alright. As you say. GS ki toh value hi nahi hai" said Swayam shaking his head. Rey, Taani and Sharon giggled.
"I'll get going guys. I'm feeling too tired today" said Taani.
"Hum bhi nikal hi rahe hai. Saath mein hi jaate hai" suggested Rey.
"Umm..ok" agreed Taani.
They reached Taani's place and thought of loitering around in the park for sometime. Sharon and Swayam excused themselves and slowly started walking towards their home. Rey and Taani headed, unknowingly, towards the orphanage.
"Rey, tum aur Swayam itna kyun jhagadte ho?" asked Taani to start a conversation.
"Hum jhagadte nahi, argue karte hai!" corrected Rey.
"Ha wahi.." said Taani.
"Jhagadna aur argue karna same nahi hota Taani" said Rey.
"Uff! Rey tum har kisi se argue kar sakte ho!" exclaimed Taani.
"Correction. Har kisi se nahi, but unhi logon se jinka mere saath koi rishta ho" replied Rey.
"Rishta?" asked Taani confusingly.
"Haan. As in ab mein tumse argue kar raha tha as tum meri (pauses) friend..ha.. friend ho" replied Rey.
Both were silent for sometime. As they walked ahead, they heard some kid crying very badly. On moving further, Rey recognized that it is Khushi who is crying and instantly rushed to her.
"Khushi kya hua tum ro kyun rahi ho?" asked Rey who himself panicked after seeing her state.
Khushi just hugged him and continued crying. She didn't say a word. Soon Granny reached there searching for Khushi.
"Khushi please try to understand. Mein kuch nahi kar sakti. Hume jaana hoga" said Granny making her understand but she didn't budge and continued crying.
"Granny, hua kya? Khushi itna kyu ro rahi hai?" asked Taani.
"Aur 'Hume jaana hoga' iska kya matlab hai?" asked Rey.
"Humara orphanage Mumbai and Banglore mein hai. Due to some monetary problems hume yaha se Banglore shift hona hoga. But Khushi is very attached to this place; her school, this park and also you (looking at Rey). Isiliye vo bohot udas hai aur ro rahi hai jabse usse pata chala ki hum jaa rahe hai" explained Granny.
"Mujhe kahin nahi jaana. Mein nahi aaungi!" Khushi snapped back.
"Khushi baby please zid mat karo. We all have to go" said Granny.
"Rey bhaiyya boliye na Granny ko. Mujhe nahi jaana. Boliye na unhe ki mujhe yahi rehna hai. Please Rey bhaiyya. Mein aapko chodke nahi jaana chahati!" said Khushi and started crying again.
"Shoo..stop crying. Mein tumhe kahi jaane nahi dunga. But uske liye tumhe pehle rona band karna hoga" said Rey.
Khushi's crying immediately decreased. Taani went towards her and picked her up. She noticed that Rey was somewhat shaken because of what Khushi said but decided not to ask then.
"Khushi, tum jaake so jao. Rey aur mein kuch sochte hai. Ok?" said Taani.
Khushi nodded and Granny took her back with her. Rey went and sat on a bench. He was deeply thinking. Taani saw him and she could see his concern and love for Khushi and also something else. She could also somewhat read what was on his mind. Taani went and sat next to Rey.
"Rey tum bilkul sahi soch rahe ho" she said making him realize that she is sitting right beside him.
Rey just looked at her with a doubtful face.
"Tum jo decision lene ka soch rahe ho vo sahi hai. Mere hisab se tumhe yahi karna chahiye" she said.
"Sachme Taani? I mean, I'm not sure. Mom, Dad, Swayam, Sharon, yeh sab kya agree karenge?" asked Rey doubtfully.
"Tum sab se baat karo. I'm sure sab tumse agree karenge" she said placing her palm on his.
"I don't know Taani. Mein kaise sabse jaake keh du?" he said placing his other palm on hers.
"Rey, tum jyada socho mat. Go home and tell everyone what you have got to tell them" said Taani with a short smile making him believe that he is doing right.
"Taani, tum bhi chalo mere saath. Please" Rey pleaded her to come.
Taani agreed to accompany him. Rey informed his Mom, Dad, Swayam and Sharon to meet him and also informed that he is on his way and he has got something important to discuss. All of them gathered in Singhania mansion.
"Haan Rey kaho" said Swayam.
"Kya hua Rey? You look upset" said Sharon.
"I don't know how to say this.." Rey started.
Taani gave him a reassuring smile and a nod. Rey felt encouraged seeing her belief.
"Mein kehna chahata hun ki meine kuch decide kiya hai. Rather socha hai. Bas yahi jaanana hai if you all agree with it or no" said Rey.
"Rey beta, are you fine. Tum bohot sad lag rahe ho" worried his mom.
"Aaj mein park mein Khushi se mila tha. She was very sad and bohot ro rahi thi, as due to some problems orphanage shift ho raha hai. But usse yaha se nahi jana hai. She really wants to be here. So I was thinking kyun na hum uski responsibility le. Why don't we adopt her?" suggested Rey.
Silence filled in the room. Everyone tried to register what Rey said. Rey instantly looked at Taani. Taani gave him an assuring look. Rey felt bit relieved. His parents knew about Khushi. He had mentioned about her various times. His Dad broke the silence.
"Rey, I don't oppose to your decision. But, are you sure of it?" asked his Dad.
Rey felt relieved that his Dad agreed to his decision and answered, "Yes!"
"Rey, it's a big responsibility. I know she needs parents love and affection. But also she should not feel bad about this quick decision" said his Mom.
"Trust me mom usse bura nahi lagega. She was crying so badly. She pleaded me to do something. She..she said ki vo mujhe chodke nahi jana chahati. Na..nahi jana chahati" Rey broke down. He started crying recollecting her words.
Sharon and his mom rushed to him. Taani was shocked seeing Rey like this. She never expected Rey to break down this bad.
"Rey chalo mere saath" said his mom and took him to his room.
His Dad started making some calls. Taani, Swayam and Sharon went towards Rey's room. Rey was sleeping on his bed with his head on his Mom's lap while she was moving her hand on his head to make him calm. Taani was now confused seeing all this. Sharon and Swayam noticed it and came back to the living room with her.
"Kya hua Taani?" asked Swayam.
"Rey? Vo itna affected kyun lag raha tha?" she asked.
"Because Khushi said exactly the same thing which Tina had said eight years back" said Sharon sitting on the sofa.
"Tina?" asked Taani who wanted to know about what had happened years ago.
"Tina, Rey, Sharon aur mein, hum sab best friends the bachpan se. We were really crazy. All of us loved each other a lot. We were like inseparable souls" said Swayam.
"Bas ek hi problem thi. Tina ko blood cancer tha which wasn't curable. Rey was very attached to her. Agar Tina aaj yaha hoti, toh I could bet ki Rey kisi aur ko dekhta bhi nahi" said Sharon.
Taani was changing her expressions from happy to shock to sad.
Swayam continued, "This happened eight years ago...
FLASHBACK
"Mom kya Tina abhi humare saath nahi rahegi?" asked a 12 year old Rey to his Mom outside I.C.U. of the hospital.
"Rey aise nahi kehte. Doctor ne kaha na.." his Mom tried to explain but he cut her mid-sentence.
"Mom please don't lie. Muje pata hai Tina hume chod ke jaa rahi hai" he said with tears in his eyes.
Nurse rushed out of the I.C.U. and called for Rey, "Tina tumhe bula rahi hai."
Rey wiped his tears and went in.
"Rey tum mujhse katti nahi ho na?" asked Tina innocently.
"Nahi" replied Rey not looking at her.
"Rey, I'm sorry, meine apna promise tod diya" said Tina and started crying.
Rey went and wiped her tears, "Mat jao na" Rey said Innocently.
Suddenly her breathing became heavy. Her pulse stared dropping. Doctors rushed in. Rey was frozen on his place seeing the condition of his best and most special friend.
"I'm sorry Rey. God shayad yahi chahate hai. But mein tume chodke nahi jaana chahati.." her voice trailed off.
The ECG machine showed a straight line indicating she was no more. Doctors tried giving electric shocks, attempting to get her back. But her soul had got peace seeing her best friend at her last moment. Rey took some time to digest the fact that Tina had left him and everyone forever. He fell and sat on his knees and started crying.
FLASHBACK ENDS
"It took him months to get back to normal" said Swayam.
"He started avoiding girls as they reminded him of her. But hum sab ke kehne ke baad he decided not to be sad and hurt Tina's soul and to move ahead" said Sharon.
"But aaj tak Tina stays in his heart and I bet she'll never leave his heart" said Swayam.
"Ab tumhe lagega ki yeh kaise ho sakta hai, Rey is always flirting. But reality is this ki he is finding a Tina who will complete his life" said Sharon.
"Aaj khushi ke saath jo hua, that took him back to that time. Isiliye Rey itna shattered hai" Swayam made her understand.
Taani had tears in her eyes listening to all this. She didn't know how to react. Rey's respect in her heart grew immensely.
Soon his Mom and Dad came to the living room.
"Rey so gaya hai" said his Mom.
"Meine orphanage mein baat kar li hai. Kal subah hi hum Khushi se milne jayenge" announced his Dad.
Taani, Swayam and Sharon felt very happy on knowing it.
"Thank you so much" said Taani to his Dad.
"Thanks kyun beta" he asked.
"Rey ke decision se agree karne ke liye. He'll be really happy" said Taani with a wide smile.
"Thanks toh tumhe bolna chahiye, as tumne usse himmat di to firmly state his decision" said his Mom.
"Oh come on aunty. I'm his friend and it was my duty to help him" she said with a smile and continued, "Mujhe chalna chahiye bohot late ho gaya hai."
"Have dinner and go na" insisted Mom.
"Next time pakka. Abhi I really need to leave" said Taani.
"Alright," she said then looked towards Swayam, "Swayam tum Sharon ko drop karne jaoge tabi Taani ko bhi kar dena. It's really late."
"Sure mom." Swayam replied and they all left.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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