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Author's POV
Both Taani and Avantika were in the latter's room going through albums, Avantika was showing her all Rey's childhood pics, Ran and her marriage pics and their stuff enthusiastically. She even showed Rey's childhood toys which she has still kept with her as memory. They were looking at the album when Taani came across a picture of two babies, a boy or a girl lying side by side with their hands entwined, the kids were looking barely a year old but what shocked her the most was that the girl in the pic was she herself it was her pic and beside her was Rey, keeping his hand on hers and holding her tiny finger in a fist,
"Mumma, yeh pic?" Taani asked her when Avantika smiled, actually grinned at her brightly,
"It was Rey's first birthday, you were there with your parents for celebrations, jokingly we thought to make you both lay down and see how you both look together, we were joking that we would have the future couple's pic together from childhood when Rey caught your finger, we all were in awe at this and decide to click this moment. You don't even know that at this moment me and your mother and Rag had started planning your wedding, to your dress, preps, jewellery and the men were laughing at our silliness saying that you both are just kids." Avantika told her smiling as if in a trance remembering the past while Taani kept looking at the picture caressing it. It was really cute, she could not contain her greed and asked Avantika that can she keep that pic with her and the latter agreed happily. They looked at other pics when Avantika's phone rang,
"See, it's your future husband.....aaj janab ko meri yaad kese aa gayi." She teased Taani saying husband and then shook her head before answering the call, Taani could only hear Avantika's voice and a one sided convo, she heard her telling him that Taani was there with her and then she was making cute faces causing Taani to giggle when Avantika huffed saying okay and cut the call.
"Kya hua Mumma?" Taani asked her seeing her putting like a kid when she answered in a complaining tone,
"Tumhara yeh fiancée, aane do isse chodungi nahi, I told him tum mere sath ho and you are going to be here for whole day par ab usne bola ki vo tumhe lene aa raha hai coz puri team tumse abhi mili nahi hai, they want to meet you." Avantika said puffing her cheeks and then continued, "Chalo koi nai, will spend time some other time, abhilet's go downstairs before that brat reaches home." Saying this she went out of the room with Taani following her when she thought something, she could not see her mother with this sad face and moreover she promised to be there with her for whole day, Avantika was not showing it but she knew how upset she was and how can she let this happen so without thinking she took out her phone and texted him for the first time probably,
"Hey, please can you bring the team at your house with you in evening, I promised to spend my whole day with mumma and now I can't leave her like this, she is upset. I can meet the team here."
She sent the text and after a minute she even got the reply back,
"Anything for both my jaans."
He texted back with a wink and a heart emoji making her sigh at his antics but a smile graced her lips seeing how he addressed both her and his mother as his life. She really fails to understand him sometimes. She walked towards the hall where she found Avantika now talking happily to what she assumed was Rey, she cut the call and turned to her smiling widely,
"He is not taking you, rather he is bringing the team home in sometime. I am so happy."
Taani laughed at her excitement before walking towards her and hugging her,
"How can he upset the woman he loves the most."
Avantika smiled pridely saying,
"Yeah, he is my son, vo kabhi mujhe naraaz ya upset nahi karta. Bahot pyaar or respect karta hai, I feel like the luckiest mom in world, and now I have two kids who love and respect me so much." She kissed Taani's forehead lovingly before embracing her and breaking the hug they both settled in living room chatting happily.
It was after an hour or two when he walked in through the doors with her brother and the whole D3 team in tow, they all were looking dead tired as they had a press conference to attend at the success of the last night show, moreover, Rey's musical act has gone insanely popular and viral claiming it to be his best performance till date. The show has been a super hit. They all came greeting both the ladies and slumped down on the sofas tiredly, the butler brought water for all of them when Rey saw Taani sitting with her mother with a smile on her face. Even the gang noticed it and passed amused glares to each other seeing her completely normal.
"Guys, tum sab baatein karo, I'll go and freshen up." Rey got up and went towards his room to change and the gang turned to Taani, Simmi was the first one to speak,
"Taani, kesi ho tum? We couldn't talk to you properly yesterday because of show."
"I am good, how are you all?" Taani asked all of them when Nil answered almost immediately,
"Ab tumhe dekh liya to we are all right, you look so ho.." He was going to complete when Simmi nudged him and Swayam glared at him daring him to complete his sentence.
"Beautiful!" He immediately changed his words scared while the others giggled, he thanked his stars that Rey was not there otherwise he would have surely dug his grave.
"Haan Taani, you look so stylish and just like a diva, kya change aaya hai." Rinni complimented her causing her to smile slightly,
"You all look amazing too guys, and so happy ki aap sab ka academy dream and world famous dance team ka dream pura hua."
"Thank you so much Taani, par sabse zyada to tumne success payi hai..." Neha started when Aashi continued,
"Haan, world famous types fashion designer, and uske upar Paris fashion week types..." The girls were getting too excited talking about fashion and Taani's experiences while the boys were trying to stop the topic when Bharat immediately jumped in convo,
"Haan bhai log, tu to ab itni badi star ban gayi, apun ko to laga hi nahi tha...." He was going to complete when he saw everyone eyeing him rather glaring him to shut up. He looked at Taani who didn't react but only passed a smile,
"Mujhe bhi nahi laga tha ki mai fashion designer banugi, but I guess time changes everything."
Avantika then looked at all of them saying,
"Tum sab ko bhuk lagi hogi na, kya loge?"
"Haan aunty, bahut...ek aap hi hai jo hume samjhti hai." Vicky said winking at her trying to flirt making her roll her eyes at his antics. She slapped his head slightly before saying,
"I'll make coffee and snacks for all of you..." She was going to stand up when Taani stood before she could,
"Mumma, you sit I'll make." Saying this she was going towards the kitchen when Amar thanked her,
"Thank you so much Taani, tumhare hath ka khana khaye kitna time ho gaya."
She went towards the kitchen while everyone sighed internally seeing her behaving normally with all of them. Even Swayam was relieved at her casual behaviour. Sharon wanted to talk to her alone so she too went towards the kitchen where Taani was talking to Kaka and making coffee while the cooks made snacks.
She entered and stood beside her when Taani turned feeling another presence and looked at her, she passed a small smile to Sharon who returned it too.
"So, kesa hai sab, I mean Paris, your work, everything?" Sharon asked hesitatingly, Taani switched on the coffee maker and replied turning to her,
"Everything is good."
"Hmm" Sharon hummed genuinely happy with her success which reflected in her words,
"We all are so proud of you taani, when Rey told us you have become such a great and talented fashion designer, we couldn't believe it coz tumne kabhi bataya hi nahi that you have interest in fashion and all...." She trailed off when Taani smiled a sad one at her,
"Kisko batati, yaa phir yu kahu ki batane ke liye kuch tha hi nahi, mene khud kabhi nahi socha tha par fir ek din sochna pada...... kuch to hona chahiye na jo humara ho, sirf humara, jese aap sabke liye aapka dance.."
Sharon heaved a sigh before coming to what she came to her to say,
"Taani, coming to that I am sorry, I know I have hurt you a lot, I encouraged Rey in his stupid plan, I shouldn't have...." She was saying when Taani cut her off,
"It's all in the past Sharon, doesn't matter."
"It matters, we forced you to live a life alone there....Humari wajah se tum sabse du rho gayi."
"Sharon, I am not going to say it's fine, because it's not, mere liye sab bhulna easy nahi hai, par pta hai aaj I realised one thing ki past ka asar present me nahi hona chahiye, isliye please stop feeling guilty, and ab we all should move on. Just like I have done, may be ek new life."
Taani completed making her smile big,
"And new friendship too." Sharon asked her forwarding her hand waiting for Taani to accept her friendship, her dosti which was one of the main aspects of their lives along with dil and dance.
"Friends!" Taani accepted her hand in a handshake and Sharon hugged her tightly in happiness then jokingly saying,
"Abe ek or problem solve ho gayi, you can call me bhabhi too without getting nervous." Both the girls giggled and started talking while making snacks and went outside with trays. They gave everyone their coffees when Avantika asked Taani,
"Taani beta, Rey abhi tak niche nahi aaya, Please usse bula lao." She was going towards his room when Vicky and Nil smirked at each other getting an idea of making both of them spend time alone,
"Aree Taani, actually Rey bahot tired hai, may be he is resting, tum uski coffee la jao with snacks, jab tak aayega thande na ho jae."
Taani nodded and took his coffee and snacks with her upstairs, she was holding the tray in her hands, unable to knock she entered the room but immediately turned around closing her eyes tightly muttering,
"OhShit!"
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Continue to read next chapter!!