chapter 38

                    Taani was confused. Should she go for the cream or would the red stand out? She huffed. This was so difficult!! She looked back at the wardrobe where the cream net and the red chiffon saree seemed to be staring back at her disdainfully as if urging her to choose one and get over with it. She caressed the red material in her hand. She had worn one like this on a night, a long time ago. It felt like a lifetime ago. She sighed. Try as she might, she couldn't get over him. Everything reminded her of Rey. She had tried her hardest to move on and convince herself that she could find happiness if Rey was happy. When she had found out that Rey had begun dancing again, she was beside herself with joy. Dancing was like breathing to him and if he had resumed dancing then it clearly meant he was back to his normal self. But then Kria returned.

          A million shards pierced through her heart, wounding her. She knew that a lovable, genuine and caring person like Rey would never be alone. He would one day find someone special and finally find his happily ever after. She was hoping that he did. But she also had her childlike hopes high that he would be remember her. Theirs may not have been a perfect relationship and she may not have been his first love; but all the moments they shared were pure, precious and beautiful. She hoped that he cherished all the experiences he shared with her, just the way she held on to every insignificant thing she learned from him. She didn't want to be discarded and forgotten like some old broken toy. But when she found out Rey was back with Kria, she knew every hope she had would be lost. There was no way she could compete with Kria's charms, her dancing and her aura. She was the one who ended the age-old rivalry between The Dazzlers and The Weaklings and compelled a guy like Rey to fall for her. The entire college felt her absence when she was gone. And there was no way that a simple girl as Taani could have left that kind of lasting impact on anyone.

          She sighed again, hanging the red saree back on the rack and picking up a pale yellow and pink ensemble. For some reason Vishesh always loved pastel colors on her. She tried explaining him as delicately as she could that she loved bright colors, but somehow the message never carried through to him. Wasn't she the same with Rey? He had tried explaining her what dance meant to him, how much he loved tearing the dance floor down. But both his voice and passion were drowned out by her insecurities and fear. She thought loving someone to the point of obsession was the most romantic thing in the world. But being with Vishesh made her realize it was a step short of suffocation. It wasn't as if she wasn't happy with him or that he didn't take care of her. But he was a reflection of who she was a year ago and that sent waves upon waves of guilt crashing onto her. Whenever she was with him, she couldn't help but think how life could be had she been more matured and balanced. Would she have still been with Rey if she had known where to draw the lines and where to rein herself in?

          She almost fell off her chair at the sound of her ringing phone. Cursing herself, she straightened up and flicker of surprise passed her face when she saw her sister's name flashing on the device. She faked a chirpy voice as she answered the phone so that she wouldn't give away any indication of her mental turmoil.

"Hello? Kya baat hai? Aaj sooraj kahan se uga? Aaj tune phone karne ki taqleef uthaayi kaise?"

There was silence from the other end for a moment. Taani grew concerned. Before she could ask anything Neeti replied, "Bas tujhse baat karne ka man kiya."

Taani was alarmed now. "Kya hua Neeti? Tu bohot dull sound kar rahi hai. Sab thik toh hai na? Phir kisi ke saath jhagda toh nahin hua na tera?"

"Nahin. Jhagda nahin hua."

"Phir baat kya hai? bata na! suspense create karna bandh kar ab."

"Woh wapas aagaya hai."

"Woh? kaun woh? Tu saaf saaf batayegi?"

"Pa...Parth wapas aagaya hai", Neeti seemed to force his name out.

Taani stilled. This was like the worst nightmare coming true. She shook her head a couple of times hoping she had heard wrong. She didn't just hate Parth. She loathed him with every fiber of her existence. And to know that he was there, no doubt to make Neeti miserable, consumed her with an uncontainable fury. And she couldn't even begin to imagine what Neeti must be going through at the moment. Neeti might seem strong and brave, but this was one area where she was the most vulnerable. She wished she could fly back to Mumbai and be with her the very instant. And most importantly, rip that worthless being into tiny bits.

          She would have continued plotting the many ways by which she could bring about his demise, but Neeti's voice brought her out of her reverie.

"Taani, tu yahan aa sakti hai kya kuch dinon ke liye?"

Neeti's request caused Taani's eyes to literally pop out of her sockets. It was very unlike Neeti to reveal any weakness or vulnerability. She usually bore everything stoically without every showing so much as a chink in her armor. Taani realized that Neeti wouldn't have asked if she thought she could handle herself.

"I'm sorry yaar. Abhi immediately nahin aa paungi. 2 din baad Vishesh ke parents ne ek bohot badi party rakhi hai mere liye. Unke kuch khaas rishtedaar Mumbai se aarahe hai sirf mujhse milne. Tu 2 din sambhaal le bas. uske baad main tere paas aajaungi."

"Aisi bhi koi zaroorat nahin hai. Main bas aise hi pooch rahi..."

"Neeti! Tera haq banta hai. Behen hai tu meri. Tu jab chahe mujhe apne paas bula sakti hai. Aur agar tu sochti hai ke isse tu kamzor prove hojayegi toh you are wrong! Meri life mein maine tujhse zyada strong aur brave ladki nahin dekhi hai."

Neeti continued to be silent. Taani added, "Please Neeti. Bas 2 din sambhaal le.. Uske baad hum teenon koi solution nikaalte hain. Waise Bhai kaise hain? Woh kaise handle kar rahe hain sab?"

"Tu jaanti hai na Bhai ko! Use dekhte hi ghussa sawaar hogaya tha unhe. Badi mushkil se unhe convince kiya hai ki woh react na karein. Warna..."

"Sabko sach pata chal jayega", finished Taani. "I know Neeti. Tujhe samajhti hoon. Sahi kiya tune. Bhai kabhi kabhi thode out of control ho jaate hain. Tu fikr mat kar. main bhi ek baar Bhai se baat karti hoon. Shayad tab unhe situation zyada ache se samajh aaye."

"Thik hai. Agar tujhe sahi lagta hai toh karle unse baat."

"Please tu tension mat le. Kaash ye party na hoti. Main kab ka tere paas aa chuki hoti."

"Taani, guilty feel mat kar please. Mujhe aur bura lagega. Tu ye party khatm hote hi aajana. Main tera wait karoongi. Chal rakhti hoon. Bye."

"Bye."

          After hanging up, Taani mentally added another reason to her already growing pile of excuses for not attending this party. She looked angrily at the yellow material in her hand. Her sister was in pain and she was supposed to smile and look pretty. Life was cruel.

She couldn't have possibly known that this wasn't even the beginning.

[MEMBERSONLY]