"wow" Karan exclaimed as Surbhi hauled him to the patio. The colorful lights were garlanded across the outdoor. Surbhi locked his hand and pulled toward the small table upon which a strawberry cake was decorated with red cherries. Wahi and Kriya were waiting for them, already. Rithwik ran behind them who was videoing them all the way.
"Ab tu bas karega…" Karan shied at the constant glare of lens on him. He wasn't camera prone, generally. "Are… tu jaane ke baad… mujhe ye photos aur videos hi rahega…" Surbhi chided. "Tu aisa bol rahi hai ki jaisa mein hamesha hamesha ke liye jaa Raha hun…" Karan teased her. "Stop it, Karan" Surbhi snapped at him. She didn't like him saying it. People often ignored humour. But at times, the blurt out words spared a life. And there was always a chance of manifesting the thoughts and words spoken by one. Hence, one should be careful enough about words. WORDS HAVE THE POWER TO EITHER BREAK OR BUILD.
"Okay… okay… tu abi gussa mat ho…" Karan hugged her. She sighed realising he was jesting yet something unpleasant tugged her back. "Thank you…" he kissed her forehead and turned to Kriya, Wahi and Rithwik who finally joined them. "Thank you to all of you…" He still hugged Surbhi on one side.
"Chup Kar…" Kriya and Rithwik said simultaneously. Both glanced at each other at the similarity. Kriya shrugged her eyes as Rithwik's gaze bore into her. Both hadn't spoke a word with each other after Kriya confessing to him. To be precise, both avoided to confront each other about it. Surbhi's lips broke into a knowing smile while Wahi looked in between both Kriya and Rithwik who started behaving weirdly around each other. They weren't even bickering at each other which they usually did. Probably he thought it was because of the showdown with Taani. Obviously he and Rithwik weren't still in terms with Surbhi and Kriya for scapegoating Taani.
"Toh Chalo... Ye ek raat rahoge tum humare saath… Cake toh atleast katate hai..." Surbhi lit the candle on cake. It was just a small send off party for him. He was going back to London, the next morning flight. Probably he may not even visit them until all of them returned back as well, knowing he was going to handle his father's buisness.
Karan blew the candle and cut the cake as Rithwik sung a beautiful song for him. They were all going to miss him like anything. They always had been together and it would take a toll to be departed from him for so long. They all just wanted to have this moment with him before he was bid adieu for certain period. The party went on as five of them danced, drunk and enjoyed. Surbhi and Karan grooved while Wahi heaved both Rithwik and Kriya to move their hips. But both of them landed dashing on each other at every step as Wahi did some sleezy breakdance. Rithwik and Kriya's heart raced each moment they touched or their bodies grazed accidentally. Kriya had this electrifying effect of Rithwik on him. But Rithwik… who was as confused as a chameleon about his feelings… felt the buzz of pleasant collywobbles dropping down the gut of his stomach. He was unable to understand the kind of emotions starting to surround him. This was different. So unlike of anything he felt for anyone till now. It wasn't the similar balls which he always experienced around Su. This was… He just didn't know what it was…
After half an hour of continuous celebrations, Karan excused to attend an important call. Surbhi jogged towards Wahi, Rithwik and Kriya.
"Thank you, Guys… Itni Kam time mein ye sab plan karne ke liye… Tum logon ke Bina... Mein ya Kriya Kya karenge…" Surbhi expressed her gratitude for making all the arrangements so special for Karan's last night in India.
"Humare Bina tum dono bahut kuch Kar sakte ho…" It was Wahi who taunted. And that tone made Surbhi shut her mouth. "Meine sahi bola na?" He questioned her and turned to Kriya who was already lowering her eyes.
"Karan ko pata hai Kya?" Rithwik asked Surbhi purposefully. He knew very well that Karan would have blasted if he had known the injustice happened with Taani. He would have gone frenzied if known Surbhi and Kriya were part of the reason to throw Taani into a suspension for week from the college.
Surbhi was really sorry for everything they did. She was against Rey's idea from day one. But she hadn't done anything to stop it. Also, her own best friends caring for Taani more than her or Kriya just undid her kindness. "Tum log humare friends ho ya Taani ka? Kabse dek rahi hun… aap dono toh aise behave Kar rahe ho ki apko sirf Taani hi dik rahi hai… Tum dono Hume Taani se pehle jante hai… Ya Taani se Milne ke baad humara friendship ka hissa bi usiko dena chahte ho Kya?" Surbhi was non-stop. She really loved Taani. But she was getting irritated at the constant taunts of Wahi and Rithwik glorifying Taani in a royal position while demeaning them as culprits. A small stem of insecurity had built in Surbhi. Or was it because she was facing the affects of Karan leaving to London.
Wahi and Rithwik stood in a stunned silence. Even Kriya was shocked to hear Surbhi's locution. "Mujhe tum per hasi aa Raha hai, Surbhi…" Wahi disapproved making Surbhi even angrier. "I know you for half a decade... And I'm just surprised…" He winded. "Tum bi jaante ho ki tum aur Kriya bi utna hi galat hai jitna tumhara pura team Galata hai… Humesha Sach ke saath Kade honewali ti tum… Tumne dance team ko join Karne ke liye…Sharon ke saath Tak ladi hai… Toh aaj Kya hua? Apne apke upar itna bi barosa nahi ta Kya? Jo aap sabne Taani ka tyaag kardiya?" Wahi may seem the softest kid. But he wouldn't spare even a rock particle if it hurt the people he loved. Surbhi and Kriya were as equal as Taani to him. And that was the reason he was even more hurt by the actions of Kriya and Surbhi. "Tum dono humare best friends hai…. Ye ek hi wajah hai… mein abi bi yaha kadke tum dono se ache se baath Kar Raha hun… Phir bi agar tumhe lagta hai ki… mein ya Rithwik… Taani ko hi importance de rahe hai… Get your mind cleansed first…" He walked off not even affording to look back at the dejected face of Surbhi and Kriya.
Surbhi then looked at Rithwik who was yet recovering from the thunderbolt threw by Wahi. He had never witnessed Wahi being so splenetic at anyone. Especially not with his friends. But today…this moment.. he had proved all of them wrong. Because Wahi wasn't just sweet or cute. He was passionate towards the people he cared for. He knew to give them love and hit them with bullet fire if they went wrong. Kriya gulped comprehending there was unspoken pent-up build in Rithwik. Probably he wasn't expressing his disappointment at them the way Wahi said bluntly but his pupils were enough to make them flinch away to a far distance.
Rithwik didn't wanted to make Surbhi feel like shit on the only night she got to spend with Karan before he left. At the same time, he just couldn't keep quite when Surbhi behaved like a frustrated bully at her own friends rather than being empathetic to understand her mistakes. "Karan is coming… Go and enjoy the night…" He faked a smile at Surbhi and left following Wahi without a word to Kriya. Both the girls felt awful as they gaped at each other.
******
Taani woke up to the ring of an alarm in her phone. It was still 6.30am in the morning. Her heart thumped heavily as some of her faded dreams had terrified her during the sleep. She had slept early at night, just after coming back from the dinner. Rithwik and Wahi had dropped her and Zoya back to home while Hina had gone with Harshad. She vaguely remembered kissing Leo who fell asleep even before she arrived and then she had directly gone to bed. Zoya had been at her side for the longest hours sharing about her day at office. Taani enacted to listen but her brain was occupied by lot of things happened with her in the college. She wasn't even aware when she had slept. But she realised it must be too early because Zoya had pushed a quilt around her shoulders and switched off the lights, closing the window door which use to be always open. For a fraction of second, Taani hoped Rey would have come to her room the same way he used to come through the window always. But to her delusion, he hadn't. After her disregarding his calls, her cell went into silent buzz.
She pulled her cellphone from the stand, switching off the alarm. And checking the call list to see if Rey had called her again. It was such a shame. When he called, she hadn't been so forgivable. But now… Well... It was her everyday time to get ready for college. And her body itched to just follow the routine. Then came back the news of her suspension into her head. She had a week to dwell upon her failure as a GS. And to get depress about her loneliness. She hadn't spoken to anyone of the gang after the authorities announcing her debar. Not even her brother. And as much as they lived in the same house, she just wanted to avoid him for the time being. Becaus if she confronted him now, things would turn ugly. She had endured much in the past to forget or forgive people these days became extra difficult. As much as she loved her brother or Rey or gang, she was too hurt to talk to them, eventhough it wouldn't last longer.
Then all of a sudden she remembered, Karan was leaving to London. She threw her blankets and rushed to washroom to get ready. She couldn't miss meeting him one last time before meeting after year.
******
"What's wrong?" Rey asked Surbhi who sat gloomily in the canteen, not touching the food served on table.
"Karan subah hi London ke liye nikal Gaya... So…" Kriya side hugged Surbhi, answering on her behalf.
Rey and Swayam looked at each other. "Hey… Karan kaha humesha ke liye jaa Raha hai… tum jab chahiye tab usko call Kar sakte ho… baat Kar sakte ho… agar bahut miss Kiya to video call bi Kar sakte ho…. Toh itna udas mat ho…" Sharon suggested. Surbhi smiled at her. She wasn't actually sulked because of Karan leaving India. Kriya maybe thought that was the reason. But that wasn't.
******Flashback to previous night******
"Deko Surbhi… Shayad tumhe lagega mein bahut emotional hoke tumse ye baat bol Raha hun…" Karan began. Both him and Surbhi cuddled sitting on a sofa after getting back into the house off the party. Surbhi craned her neck surprised at the sudden change of his voice. He sounded serious. His eyes turned molten red.
"Kya hua?" She was concerned.
"Tumhe Kya laga… tum nahi batoge ya koi nahi batayenge toh mujhe pata nahi chalega?" He interrogated.
"Mein kuch samji nahi…" Surbhi was having a real bad night. Everyone spoke to her in a cryptic way.
"Mein jaanta hun… tumhara dance team ne Taani ke saath Kya Kiya hai…" Karan revealed. Surbhi's eyes flashed in fear. It wasn't something she expected to come out of his mouth. She knew the kind of love he had for Taani and she felt ashamed all of a sudden. She hadn't confessed to him the truth by herself. Also, she was just shameful about the audacity of her to question Wahi and Rithwik's priorities towards her. That was insane. She couldn't believe herself that she had been so dumb to get insecure about Taani even if it was for a moment. "I'm sorry…" She mouthed, her head hanging down.
"Mujhe koi explanation nahi chahiye, Surbhi. But I'm very much disappointed…" He said the truth. "Lekin… Jo ho Gaya wo ho Gaya..." he held her cheek. Surbhi was astonished to see him being so patient enough to handle the truth.
"I understand ki tum aur tumhara team ko shayad ye karna bahut zaruri ta… But still that doesn't make your mistake right... Bina Taani ka koi galati… she's facing the consequences…" Karan said through hard stare.
"Mujhe bi ye karna pasand nahi ta, Karan" Surbhi tried to explain him.
"Phir bi… tumne roka toh nahi…" He accused her right back. He stood up leaving her hand to fall on her lap.
"Mujhe tumhe aaj upset nahi karna ta… Isiliye ab Tak mein is baare mein na hi kuch bola… na hi kuch pucha.." He tuned his back on her. She stood up. "I just want to say… Taani me… mein hamesha Su ko deka hu… Aur shayad hi Taani aur Mera khoon ka rishta nahi hai… But she's like my sister. Mein usko apna behen maan chuka hun… Aur koi bi Meri behen ke saath kuch galat Kare... Mujhe bardash nahi hota hai… Wo koi bi ho…" He warned. Surbhi literally felt like crying. She always was a crazy lunatic. But the part of being in a wrong place at wrong time had unnerved her goodness. Now, even Karan misunderstood her.
"I hope tum samaj gayi ho… mein Kya kehna chahta hun…" Karan turned to her. She stared at him. "Tumne humesha Meri rishtonko apna Mana hai… Toh aaj mein tumse kuch mangta hun, Surbhi... Meri absence mein tum Taani ka saath kabhi nahi chodoge... Promise me?" He put his hand forward. Surbhi's sixth sense slapped her thoughts. Why was she having an anxiety? All the things conversed between her and Karan today just gave her some unhealthy ideas. He was asking for a promise from her. Why did that make her heart fill with pessimism? "Aisa koi bi situation aye… You will always stand with her… Mera kami usko tu humesha Puri karoge?" He asked with a sad smile.
"Ha… lekin… tum achanak aise kyun baat Kar rahe ho?" Surbhi chided. "Jab Tak tu London mein rahega… I promise… Taani ko kabhi mein tumhara kami mehsoos Karne nahi dungi… But eventually tumhe aana padega… mujhse Milne... Taani se Milne... Aur humara sab doston se Milne..." She ordered. And then, she ran and hugged him. "Why do I feel tum mujhse kuch chupa rahe ho?" She asked yet her head on his chest. "Ab zyada dimag laga mat… mein kuch nahi chupa Raha hun…. But mein Toda pareshan hun Taani ke liye…" he hugged her back. Surbhi hoisted her head at him. Understanding her concern, he answered. "Taani apna sab kuch apne mein hi rakna pasand karti hai… wo apne sapno ke liye bahut mehnat Kar rahi hai… I had promised her to help in her venture… lekin uska help kiye Bina mein unfortunately London ja Raha hun… Isiliye… Mein tumse madad mang Raha hun… Mein agar yaha hota toh… mein Taani ke liye Jo bi karta… ab mein chahta hun… wo tum Kare..."
"Of course karungi…" She promised him, finally relieved at his words. He was doing it for Taani. And she would happily be a part of it. "Mein bi Taani ka Dil dukai hun… Aur shayad isase acha koi mauka mujhe kaise milega… usko… toh mein manake rahungi… aur tu chinta mat Kar... I'll always take care of Taani... tune Su ko koya hai… Taani ko kabhi nahi koyega…" She cupped his cheeks and kissed his forehead. He embraced her with full warmth.
******Flashback end******
Surbhi was finding a way to get back to Taani. She wanted to speak to her before doing anything. Karan left way too early to the airport dismissing anyone to join him. He had plans to meet someone before he took off. So Surbhi or anyone else didn't join him to bid a goodbye. Now that Karan was gone, her whole concentration was going to be on Taani and her dance, friends.
"Rey…" Surbhi hopped up suddenly from the table. "Mere saath aao…" she held his hand and pulled him up. He watched others hoping they could aid him. But all others looked clueless. "Kaha?" He asked. She turned to him, hands on her hips. "Jaha tumhe is waqt hona chahiye… waha…" she answered. He looked clueless.
******
Taani walked out of the office along with Zoya and Hina who were gossipping about Harshad's new lakh worthy suit. While Zoya was non-stop adoring Harshad's 6 pack body in that concealed lakh worthy suit, Hina giggled at her excitement. Taani was least interested in knowing her boss's abs or suit. Gross. But these two were behaving weird and she couldn't help but feel the tension stemming all over them. She didn't understood what was happening around these three or four, actually. How can she forget Wahi's forlorn glances at Hina and Hina's hide and seek gazes back at him. And to make her even more confused, Harshad was everywhere where Hina was and Zoya hived around Harshad even worthier than a bee around it's honeybee.
Amidst of her thoughts across her friends life, she didn't notice a familiar bike… or a face….
Taani skidded into halt as she came face to face with Rey, who had slid onto his bike, hands locked around his chest. He looked upto her and her breathe caught. She blinked for several seconds believing it wasn't any dream. He was for real.
"Oh oh… deko… deko… kaun Aya hai?" Zoya screamed, giggling at Rey. He waved at the three of them, his eyes lingering on Taani for maximum time. "Kya baat hai, Rey... Tumne toh sab BF's ko picha chod Diya…" Hina joined his side and patted his shoulder. He wanted to blush but the look Taani threw at him told him otherwise. "Are… This is so romantic… jiju…" Zoya locked a hand with him. Rey and Taani looked at each other at the same time as Zoya mentioned Rey as jiju. It would have been so awkward for Rey if anyone would have even thought of calling him as jiju. But the minute Zoya called him jiju, he couldn't help but feel the warmth of it. She enclosed his bond with Taani in a seal even before they agreed upon doing anything. He felt…. eerily satisfied.
"Zoya…" Taani was flabbergasted. "Tu ye Kya bakwaas Kar rahi hai…" she burst on her. Zoya looked confused. "Ismein bakwaas Kya hai Taani? Jab kal jaake Tera aur Rey ka shadi hoga… tab Zoya Kya mein aur baaki sab… Rey ko jiju hi bulayenge…" Hina chuckled, mortifying both Rey and Taani.
"Lekin abi toh humara shadi nahi hua hai… toh.. abi jiju bulane ka Kya zarurat hai…" Taani defended her stance, ignoring Rey's amused look. Oh…. Hell… she had no idea why he was here. Neither she was interested. Because right now, she was pissed off and seeing him just worsened her mood though her treacherous heart felt absolutely happy inside.
"Rey JIJU… pata nahi… isko Kal se Kya ho Gaya hai…" Zoya stressed purposefully making Taani red. Rey felt sad that Taani was still upset about things. He understood it took time. But he couldn't leave her without trying to be sorry. He had done a mistake. Knowingly or unknowingly he had hurt her once again. "Ab tu usko aise hi dekte rahoge ya… usko kahi lekar bi jaoge?" Hina asked him. Rey was so thankful to her for voicing it out. Now, Taani wasn't going to deny him. But that's what the exact thing she did.
"Nahi… mein Ghar jaa rahi hun…" Taani simply dismissed. Rey looked hopeless. Hina and Zoya looked between them, finally feeling the daggers thrown by Taani at Rey.
"Ghar toh mein aur Surbhi jaayenge… tum nahi…" Hina smiled making Taani's eyes wide. "Bye Taani…" Zoya jumped and kissed Taani's cheek. "Bye… mere honewale JIJU…" She passed him a flying kiss before joining Hina in her car. Taani opened her mouth to protest but they were already on their way back to the car. She literally cursed at them for abandoning her. They had no information about the things happened with her and she just didn't wanted to upset them confessing everything. So she bluffed. But caught in her own acting. Still, she wouldn't go with Rey.
She turned away from him without any mercy. But he held her hand stopping her on her foot.
******
Author's Note:
Anyone feeling that I'm glorifying only Taani much? Please, let me know if it's a yes. I'm just little partial towards her because Taani always had been one in the show and I just can't help but connect all the new characters in favor of her. That's her story and her set of world she had build for herself.
And coming to the story, let me k ow if it's getting boring? Every chapter can't be a hit, I understand. I'm trying to explore all the character in this TaaRey's departed phase. Anyone missing SwaRon? Wait for them. I'll give their scenes as well. And I have to confront one thing - I have purposefully kept Sharon and Taani's misunderstandings still in tact... Their confrontation is on the way and let's see whom will Swayam and Rey support?😁😁😁
And now the most important question? Should I give a happily ever after story line to all the couples😁 or do I have the previlige of making some couples star-crossed? Let me know your opinions.
P.S: whole debate of who's right in Taani's situation? To me both Rey and Taani are wrong and right at the same time. So... Will continue the same way. Let's see where they will take this....