Chapter Twenty Six.
Taani sat down on the sheet on the floor with AM, PM and a few of their other classmates. Anurag sat next to her.
"Chal, baata, kya horaha hai aaj kal?" AM asked
"Tu bata. Teri cafe kaise jaarahi hai?" Taani asked
"Bohat acha!" AM told her
"Haan! Bohat mazaa aaraha hai. Hai na?" PM asked and AM nodded.
Taani sat back and felt Anurag try and reach for her hand whilst everyone was engrossed in cinversation. She batted his hand away and turned away in a sulk. Anurag smiled to himself then tried again.
Taani gave him a look before getting up and went to sit in between AM and PM as they chatted. Anurag tried to get Taani's attention but it didn't work, she made a face and turned to AM, on her right, who spoke:
"Chalo hum taash khelte hai" PM suggested
"Haan! Chalo khelte hai" AM agreed
"Theek hai. Lekin kohi cheating na kare, to" she said glaring at an amused Anurag who was sat opposite her.
"Acha, pati patni ke beech kohi jagra huwa kya?" PM teased, catching on
"Kuch nahi" Taani said "chalo. Khele?"
"Haan haan" AM teased. "kyun Onu?" she teased and he chuckled.
"Khele kya?" Taani persisted and PM got the cards out.
Anurag picked up the cards he was given and smirked to himself. At the other side Taani announced, jubilantly. "Dekhna. Main hi jeetoonghi aaj" she told
"Dekhte hai" Anurag retaliated
"Acha? Khelo phir" she told him sitting back.
The rest of their friends began to bail, one by one. Anurag and Taani were the only ones left. "ab bas tum dono rehgaye ho. Dekhte hai kiski kismat main jeet likhi hai aaj" AM teased. Anurag looked up at a jubilant Taani who looked up from her cards.
"Kyun Onu? Dikhaayegha ya fold?" PM asked and he smiled before putting his cards on the sheet, face down.
"Yes!" Taani exclaimed "Dekh" she said turning her cards to show them all. A King, a Queen and a Jack.
"Vah Taani!" the girls cheered
"Congratulations" Anurag said
"Thank you" she boasted
"Chalo phir kelthe hai" PM said gathering everyone's cards. Anurag quickly grabbed his cards.
"Chal de, is baar main deal kartha hoon" he said grasping his cards tightly in his hand. Taani looked at him suspiciously.
"Acha" AM shrugged, about to pass him the rest of the cards.
"Ek minute" Taani stopped them.
"Kya?" PM asked
"Kya hua Taani?" AM asked
"Onu, tu apna cards de na" she said holding her hand out.
"Mera cards?" he half-laughed, looking at the others "vo kyun..?"
"Apna. Cards. De" she told him sternly "abhi" she said waiting and he sighed before giving her his cards. She turned the cards and her mouth opened before looking up at Anurag, who looked away, whistling.
"Onu! Yeh kya hai?" she said showing him the cards.
"Kya?" he asked
"Cheating!" she told him "patha tha mujhe" she told him, shaking her head.
"Oy hoye" AM teased, "apne pyaar ko manaane ke liye yeh lutf bhi utaana para raha" she teased Anurag, who smiled.
"Dekha Taani. Main tere liye kya kya kartha hoon?" he asked like a child and she looked away.
"Huh!" she made a face.
"Arre ghussa chor do na Taani. Bechara ko maaf karde." AM said.
"Haan" Anurag added "maaf karde na"
"Maaf karoon isse?" she asked her friends in disbelief.
"Haan! Karle na!" he told her
"Tum dono ko patha hai ke isne kya kaha?" she asked
"Kya?" they both asked
"Taani, chor na..." he tried to stop her but it was too late. He hid his head in his hands as she spoke.
"Isne kaha ke main moti hogayi hoon!" she told them and their mouths opened.
"Onu!!" they both exclaimed turning to him.
"Mazaak kar-raha tha main!" he said in his defence, looking up. "main aisa kyun kahoongha?" he asked
"Haan haan. Mazaak hi to kar-raha tha" she said in a mood and tutted.
"Okay, okay. Sorry"
"Nahin, nahni. Sorry se nahi chalegha" AM told him
"Nahi chalegha?" he asked "matlab?"
"Tu ne Taani ke feelings ko hurt kiya"
"Bilkul!" Taani agreed, throwing her two-pence-worth in and turned away when Anurag looked at her.
"To phir?" he asked "kya karoon?"
"Hmm" PM paused to think.
"Arre PM!" AM thought of an idea
"Haan?"
"Us film main jab hero heroine ko naraaz kiya to kya ghaana gaya tha?"
"Ab mujhe kya pata hai ke tu kaunsi film ki baat kar-rahi hai?" she sighed. Anurag chuckled and looked to Taani to see her smiling. She gave him a look to let him know all wasn't forgiven and turned away, making him smile even more.
"Chal chor" PM said "jo bhi gaana gayegha, vo chalegha"
"Haan!" AM agreed, as did the others.
"Theek hai" he got up.
"Nahin!" Taani exclaimed worriedly
"Nahin kya?" AM asked
"Haan. Mujhe gaane de na!" he told her
"Isse mat gaana gaane ko kehdena!" she pleaded with her friends, getting up.
"Kyun?" AM asked
"Tum log to jaanthe ho, yeh ek gaana bhi nahi dhang se gaasaktha! Iski avaaz.." she made a face. "chi!"
"Excuse me?!" he exclaimed "kya matlab hai tumhaara?"
"Onu, beyt na" she smiled pleadingly "kohi gaana nahi gaana paregha" she told him
"Ab main gaakar hi rahoongha!" he challenged
"Onu! Nahi!" she pulled his arm for him to sit down next to her.
"Taani!" he exclaimed
"Hum log movie ke liye chale?" Taani suggested, changing the subject
"Main nahi jaane wala" he folded his arms
"To naa jaa. Hum jaate hain" she smiled
"Taani!" he exclaimed, surprised. "tu bachpan main mere baghair school bhi nahi jaasakti thi aur ab tu movie dekhne ke baat kar-rahi hai! Vo bhi mere baghair!"
"Vo to bachpan tha Onu. Barri hogayi hoon main" she folded her arms, smiling
"Bohat bari hogayi hai tu" he muttered quietly, making a face
"Kya bola?" she asked turning to him
"Kuch nahi" he said innocently
"Acha?" she asked, hand on hip.
"Acha, acha. Sorry, okay? Ab jagra band kare?" he suggested
"Theek hai" she sat down properly.