Chapter 3: Hide-Seek Feelings

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Taani crawled onto d floor, hugging her knees stiffly. "Ek sec mere paas, dusre sec kisi aur ke saath? How exciting, isn't it? Mera feelings ke saath kelne mein bahut maza aata hai, right" His crook words had hurt her much deeply. She swung her head below n sobbed in silence. Suddenly, her cell flickered alive, snapping her out of melancholy. She cleaned d gushing tears n picked up d call. "Bolo, Rohan" She sounded as gentle as she could. "Yaha hum sab, tera wait kar raha hai, Taani." Rohan pouted. "Kyun?" she questioned lamely not willing to access her brain memory. "Bhul gayi. We have planned to go shopping before tonight, right. Raat ko humari engagement hai, madam. Wo toh yaad hai na?" he squirmed. D cell in her hand fiddled. She shivered as d fear arose in her body. She clutched her leg in terror. She managed to please everyone by her exceptional performance of pretending to be very excited. But little does they knew, d burden she carried alone. She always loved Rohan, her BFF. He was indeed more than a friend. But d thought of him as her lover n marrying him as a life partner, she never did really think of it even in d silliest joke. "Taani? U there" Rohan said hearing no reaction by her. "K, I'll be there within 15 minutes." She cut d call relentlessly.

******

Rey click opened d door of his room in hasty. He straightly headed towards d washroom stomping d foot dangerously. He squished d tap on. D water dripped. He gathered d some of d water in his broad rough hands. "Rey...." D word grinned in his ear. He sloshed it on his face constantly thrice. He closed his eyes, gritting d bear teeth. His both hands rested on d wash basin border corners. "Yes, I'm" it echoed in his head. "Taani...... Tum mere saath, kya kar rahe ho?" he quailed in agony. "Jab tumhe mera itna bi parwa nahi hai, toh mein kyun pagal ki tarah tera peecha pada hoon, huh...." He punched d basin ascending d suffocation of d wound of his previous punch. But that physical pain was needle point when compared to his mental turmoil. "Tumhe mujhse koi farak nahi padta hai, right. Mein bi dekta hun" He reassured to himself.

******

Taani entered d café deck smearing a simple breathe-taking smile. "Ab ye, Rey kaha reh gaya" Bharath squinted searching him. Taani's heart somersaulted hearing his name. She secretly eyed d surroundings but he's nowhere to be seen. Rajveer stole a glance at tensed Taani. "Mein dekta hun. Tum log niklo" Rajveer announced, gesturing her it'll be alright. Swayam noticed it. He mentally noted d point to inquire d mystery going on. They all moved to d shopping mall guided by d assistant captain of d ship.

******

Rajveer on d way to Rey's room caught him sitting at a snack bar. Immediately, a smile escaped from his lips. Rey sat with 2 little naughty kids, enjoying like a small child. Rajveer tottered up to them. "Having fun, children" Rajveer ruffled d hairs of chubby boys who tend to seem as twins. They gave a toothy grin nodding yes. Rey sat sternly cng his father. "Here u go, kids" d father of those children came with a 2 cups of fruit mash juice. "Hand to me, first dad" one child protested while d other child grimaced "to me first, pops".

"Yaad hai, Rey? Tum aur Rohan bi, mujhe aise hi pareshan karte te" Rajveer adored, reminiscing his fatherhood. A smile crept on Rey's face.

"Dad, Rohan ko nahi. Mujhe dijiye" D child Rey hopped on d couch trying to take d racing car held in his father's hand. "Dad. Wo car mujhe chahiye" D little Rohan hobbled up, trying to catch it in his tiny hands. "Ye tum dono ke liye hai. Tum dono hi isse game play karoge, as a team" Rajveer ordered.

"Pata hai, Rey. Tum dono meri life ka sabse best gift hai." Rajveer told. "Mujhe tum dono ka kushi chahiye." He looked at Rey. He understood. A silent agreement had passed between d two. Rey clearly recognized d actual agenda of his father's words. He wants Rey to be happy. He wants him to standby Rohan in his happiest moment. But d truth is, probably he can never be happy in Rohan's world. Every second around him remembers d destiny's cheating. Maybe, Rohan doesn't know d truth of him n Taani but that simply doesn't change d fact he have taken d most important thing of his life. Nope, his life is taken by him. Even though he tries, he couldn't fall around him. He silently promises his dad to fulfill his wish. Rajveer squishes his hand.

******

"Ye tumpe zarur accha lagega" Sharon placed a yellow sari on Taani's shoulder, looking at Swayam. "Ha baby, bahut accha lagega" Swayam nodded like a wife-sick puppy. Taani glared him giving "Really-bhai?" look. Within a second, she retrived it back saying "Nahi..... Ye kuch ajib sa lg raha hai" Sharon threw it side. It fell on Rohan n Swayam who sat on d chairs frustrated by Sharon. She again rummaged d bundle of clothes and picked a beautiful red sari on put it on Taani's shoulder. "Red color Taani pe bahut accha lagta hai. Waise bi wo uski favorite color bi hai" a voice raised behind. Taani's hear beat increased like it was about to burst any moment. Everyone turned back. "Yeah.....U r right Rey" Sharon relieved cng a perfect combination of red sari on Taani. "Wow Rey, tumhe toh Taani ka favorite color bi pata hai" Sharon admired knowing d kind of person he's who doesn't give a damn to d people. Taani's eyes widened. He smirked gaping at Taani. "Of course, use pata hoga na bhabi. After all, college mein Taani ko tang karne ke liye uski bare mein PHD ki ti Rey ne" Vicky blurts out. "I agree" Rohan joins Vicky. Taani eyes angrily at Rey. "Chalo Taani, jaldi se ye sari try karo" Sharon stuffed d sari to Taani's hand. Taani took d sari and waggled away to trail room, giving one grim look to Rey.

"Tum log shopping nahi karoge! Chalo mere saath, tab tak Taani bi aa jayegi" Sharon dragged her husband and reluctant Rohan. "Rey, tum nahi aaoge" Vicky tapped his arm. "Tum jao na, Vicky. Mein abi ata hun" Rey responded. Vicky drifted off to join d gang who were busy in shopping at d/f compartment.

******

"Hello, Mr.Rajveer! I hope everything is going fine." Mr. Castellan spoke on d phone. "Yeah Mr.Castellan. But I'm not sure how long we can hide d news from everyone" Rajveer sounded miserable. "I understand, MR.Rajveer but u have to stay strong. I must say, Taani is being very potential to deal with this" Mr.Castellan appreciated. "Of course, my girl is literally very brave" Rajveer mumbled. "Did u say something?" Mr.Castellan was eager. Rajveer stumbled. "No. I mean... nothing" he said. "K, Mr. Rajveer. If any help needed, please make a call to me" Mr. Castellan was pleased to help. "Sure, Mr. Castellan. TY very much" Rajveer said in polite tone.

******

D door of d trail room clung unclasped. Rey tilted his head to d side. There she was, d ever beautiful girl on this earth who once belonged to only him. Her loosened hair brushed past her shoulders. Her red blouse curved beautifully. D very transparent red sari, plaited below her waist gave butterflies all over his stomach. There was no makeup yet her lovely face shimmered in d day light conceded through d windows. He gulped cng, she trying to handle her pallu. She looked amazingly cute. She brushed locks of hairs which disturbed her by tucking under her ear. She walked fixing her pallu continuously. He kept his both hands in pocket and blocked her. She stopped. Her head craned up. "Don't look so innocent Taani. Mein aaj tak isi innocence ko sach samajke tumse aaj bi aakri mauka mangta raha. But u! U r so disgusting to play with my feelings" D words shot her head hitting like a rock, shattering her concealed feelings. She dodged sideways. He blocked. She looked him with an agitated glare. He neither didn't stop her reaction nor spoke something to evoke her. He just stared her, leaving in d moment. She tricked him moving as if at left but she passed from right. She smiled triumphantly. But her elbow was pushed behind n she stumbled back hitting something hard. It was him, his hard rigid body. His breathe touched d crook of her neck. She closed her eyes. He gently left his grip. She felt his hands on her back. She wanted to stop him but not a single word did escape from her throat. Her breathing got heavier. She clutched her pallu. Something happened. He pulled one of d hook of her blouse hard and locked it, since it was accidentally unhooked before. He took back his hand. He came in front of her. She shut flew her feathery eye lids. He sniggered. He put back his hands to his pocket and walked away. 

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