Chapter 20b - It's a small world(cont.)

Shweta

@2111_shweta

“Rey, yeh sab?” Juhi was surprised to see Rey along with Purvi and Riri.

“Maa I’ll explain everything.” He brought the two in and closed the door. “Abhi ke liye please don’t tell anyone that we have comeback.” He told her.

“Theek hai. But yeh sab chal kya raha hai?” She asked looking at Purvi and then at Riri. “And who is she?”

“Hi aunty I’m Riddhima, Rey ki friend from London.” Riri introduced herself.

“London?” Juhi narrowed her eyes at Rey.

“Maa, she is not the main concern right now. Pehle help her out.” He pointed at Purvi.

“Alright, par jab tak tum mujhe bataoge nahi, how will I help you?” Juhi scolded him.

“Rey it’s fine. Wasie bhi bohot raat ho gayi hai. We can talk tomorrow. Aunty ko kyu pareshan kar rahe ho.” Purvi spoke.

“Purvi stop being so formal!” He snapped at her.

Rey narrated Purvi’s entire story to Juhi making her understand why she was with him and how he tried to help her.

“Accha yeh sab toh main samajh gayi par aage kya? Tumne apne papa ko call kiya?” Juhi asked Purvi.

“Haan.” Purvi gulped and looked at Rey.

“He was.. angry. He practically told her to come back home and marry a guy who they choose for her.” Rey explained.

“I couldn’t go back not even to explain to him so I came here along with Rey.” Purvi told her.

“Rey tum Riddhima ko guest room mein leke jao aur Purvi tum chalo mere saath.” Juhi took her to her room.

“Aunty I’m really sorry for the trouble. Voh Rey, for some reason, kept insisting that I should come home with him, isiliye..” Purvi trailed off.

“Mujhe pata hai usne tumhe yahan kyun laya hai.” Juhi smiled and continued. “Abh mujhe yeh batao ki tum Mumbai Rey ke kehne pe toh aa gayi, but what did you really want to do?”

“I don’t know what I want anymore. I just know that I can’t go back home as I don’t want to marry some random person. They will make sure that I get married if I go back to Mussoorie.” Purvi sighed.

“So, who do you want to marry?”

“I love Arjun, but I don’t know anymore if I want to marry him. Papa won’t ever talk to me if I do that.” A tear escaped her eye.

“So, if you stay here do your job and maintain distance from Arjun, will he talk to you?” Juhi wiped her tears and lovingly ran her hand on her head.

“May be.” She replied.

“Then do that. Gain back his trust and then if you still are in love with Arjun, make your parents understand.” Juhi presented her the solution.

“Par Arjun? Will he agree to staying away?”

“Iske liye tumhe ussi se baat karni hogi.”

“Then everything will work out na?” Purvi looked at her with hopeful eyes.

“Dekho Purvi, main tumhe koi jhoothe hopes nahi dungi. Tumhare papa gussa thanda hone par shayad maan sakte hai iss rishte ke liye ya phir nahi. Arjun bhi tumse dur rehke tumse pyaar kar sakta hai ya nahi. Nothing is permanent. You just need to know what is most important to you. I gambled on my love, but iska matlab yeh nahi hota ki har kisi ki story turns out the way my did.”

Purvi widened her eyes as she now understood why Rey kept insisting her to meet his mother. He kept telling her that she would help her and was relieved to have trusted him on it.

“Aise mat dekho. Meri aur Rann ki love marriage huyi thi. Humara college just khatam hua tha aur mere papa ne mere liye rishte dekhne shuru kar diye they. But I was already in love so kept rejecting every proposal. Phir himmat karke sabko ghar pe bataya but they weren’t ready as Rann’s family wasn’t that established back then. Uss waqt Rann ke papa ek steel merchant they. Business was small but it was slowly growing. And Rann was planning to start his own company with Gautam, Sharon’s dad. My family was completely against letting me marry him. But I knew for certain that I wanted to be with Rann. I knew that he would be with me through thick and thin. So, we ended up marrying each other.”

“Phir aapke papa maane?”

“Nahi. But I kept convincing him. In fact, I reached out to him till Rey was born. By then Rann’s company had made its name, so I thought ki abhi accept karenge. Plus, they were going to be grandparents. They had to be happy.”

“They weren’t?” Purvi’s jaw hung low.

“No, they were. I had once visited home after my marriage, and I wasn’t allowed into the house. Tabhi laga ki gussa hai, thanda hone par maan jayenge. So, I kept trying. And then years later, when I entered with Rey in my womb things changed. They were genuinely happy. They accepted me and my marriage.”

“Phir?”

“Phir kya? Phirse wahin arguements shuru huye, wahin taane maarna, rok tok and I decided that I can’t take it anymore. Jab tak meri aur Rann ki baat thi, I was fine. I didn’t want my son to be blamed for mistakes he didn’t commit. Toh bas uske baad I haven’t looked back.” Juhi’s eyes had welled up.

“Par aise relations tod dena?” Purvi looked at her unsure.

“I’m not advising you to break any relation. Keep trying till you can. Maybe after Rey was born, my parents would have accepted us. But I had stopped trying by then.”

…

“Rey hai kahan?” Arjun was walking to and fro in Taani’s room.

“Arjun relax please.” Taani tried to calm him.

“He was supposed to be here yesterday. Where is he?” He gritted his teeth.

“Kuch kaam agaya hoga.”

“Toh call karke batane mein kitna time lagta hai.”

“I’m trying to call him but switched off aa raha hai.” Taani informed.

Just then her phone rang, and it was an unknown number. She cancelled the call. Immediately, it rang again, and she answered.

“Taani tum Arjun ko leke ghar aao.” Rey said in a tired voice.

“Rey?” Taani was relieved to hear his voice.

“Abhi kuch mat pucho. Just come home.” He informed and disconnected the call.

“Kya kahan?” Arjun asked.

“Ghar bulaya hai.”

“Then let’s go!”

They reached Rey’s house and found the main door open. Taani rushed in followed by Arjun. She came in and saw Rey sitting on the couch with his head supported on his hand and deep in some thoughts. She also noticed the same girl she saw in the photo, sitting beside him. On hearing the footsteps, Riri looked up. She placed her hand on Rey’s shoulder and giving it a squeeze, went upstairs. Rey looked up and saw Taani standing in front of him. He hugged her tight. The hug was longer than usual. Taani sensed it and broke the hug.

“What’s wrong?” She asked.

“Come sit. I’ll explain.”

Rey told both Arjun and Taani, how he found Purvi and why she had left her home.

“Voh hai kahan?” Arjun asked, trying to keep a strong voice.

“Maa ke saath andar hai.” Rey informed.

“How is she?” Taani asked taking his hand in hers.

“She is a bit shaken.” Rey entwined his fingers in hers.

“Thank you for looking out for her.” She squeezed his hand.

“Purvi!” Arjun said as Purvi came out with Juhi.

“Arjun tu yahan?” Purvi managed to say.

“Kahan gayi thi yaar tu? I was so worried.” Arjun hugged her.

“I’m sorry.” She hugged him back and then broke the hug. “I have to tell you something.”

“Rey ne bataya hume.” Arjun stopped her.

“I guessed that but there is something else that you need to know.”

“Kya?”

“I can’t be with you.” She said with teary eyes.

“Purvi?” Arjun widened his eyes.

“Hear me out please. I love you, I really do but papa humse naraz hai. Aur main unki narazgi dur karna chahti hoon. Rey has offered me a job and I’m going to take it. I’m going to convince papa to forgive me for lying to him and running away. And also, for coming here and meeting you. But that will take time and that is what I’m asking from you.” She held his hand and pleaded.

“Bas itni si baat? Yeh tum mujhe wahan se bhi kehti toh bhi main maan jaata. Itna sab drama karne ki kya jarurat thi?” He said making her smile.

“Maine drama kiya?”

“Aur nahi toh kya? Calls kyun ignore kar rahi thi. Ek message karke sab bata deti. Pata hai kitna tension mein tha main.” He squeezed her.

“Arjun chodo mujhe.” She got out of his hold making everyone laugh.

“Chalo tum sab log baate karo. I have to be somewhere.” Juhi excused herself.

“Aunty.” Purvi ran to her. “Thank you for giving me a clear vision. Agar kal aapse baat nahi karti toh pata nahi main aaj kahan hoti.”

“Thanks koi aur deserve karta hai.” Juhi pointed at Rey. “He was the one who got you here.”

“I can’t thank him enough.” Purvi smiled and Juhi left.

“You don’t have to.” Rey smiled.

“Accha Taani, tum mujhe hostel chod dogi?” Purvi requested Taani.

“Usse kyu pooch rahi ho. Voh main bhi kar sakta hoon.” Arjun argued.

“Arjun I meant what I said. I can’t be with you. Warna papa kabhi nahi maanenge. I’m sorry.”

“Samajh gaya main. Abh rone mat lag jana.” He teased making her smile.

“Waise Arjun kya main bhi tujhe hostel nahi drop kar sakti.” Taani said.

“Kyu?” Rey looked at her.

“Kal hostel se call aaya tha mujhe. They said you vacated your room.” Taani informed.

“No, I didn’t.. Papa!” Purvi sighed and sat on the couch. “Now where am I going to stay? Itne paise bhi nahi hai ki kahin rent pe rahu.”

“You can stay..” Rey began to speak and Purvi immediately stopped him.

“I’m not taking any more favors from you. So, don’t ask me to stay here.” She said.

“Arre main keh raha tha ki tum Taani ke ghar ruk jao. Later if you want you can move out.” Rey suggested.

“Why will she move out? She can stay there forever!” Taani argued with Rey.

“Thanks Taani, but staying at your place for a day is different and moving in with you is different. And I don’t want to trouble you.”

“Trouble?” Taani eyed her.

“Purvi, I agree with Rey on this. Abhi ke liye stay with Taani. Phir when you settle with your job then you can move out.” Arjun said.

“Alright, par Taani tum aunty se baat kar lena.” Purvi agreed.

“Taani tum chal rahi ho?” Sid entered her room.

“Kahan?” She asked.

“Yaar ghar pe baithe baithe I’m bored. So, I was originally going at Armaan’s place phir usne bataya ki Kiara is behaving cranky aur Muskaan ko bhi rest ki jarurat hai so hum tere sasural ja rahe hai. Chal rahi ho?” He narrated.

“Theek hai aati hoon.” She answered.

“Purvi tum bhi chalo.” Sid told her.

“Main wahan aake kya karungi?” Purvi hesitated.

“Yahan bhi tujhe kuch kaam nahi hai. Chal na.” Taani insisted.

“Okay.” Purvi agreed.

“Great then. Main bahar wait kar raha hoon. Jaldi aajana.” Sid went out.

“Purvi..” Taani called her. “Delhi mein tu akeli hi thi? I mean Rey jab meeting mein tha tab tujhe bore nahi hua room pe akele?” Taani questioned.

“Riri ke baare mein jaanana hai toh seedhe puch na.” Purvi giggled.

“Riri?” Taani furrowed her brows.

“Haan, that girl jo humare saath ruki thi. She is his friend.” Purvi informed.

“Pehle kabhi suna nahi uske baare mein.” Taani wondered.

“Voh London mein hoti hai. He invited her here for the engagement.” Purvi saw Taani lost in her thoughts. “Itna dimaag pe pressure mat daal. Rey se jaake puch seedha.” She teased.

“Friend bola hai toh friend hi hogi. What else can she be?” Taani mumbled.

“Taani, he loves you and so do you. Itna kya soch rahi ho? And trust me I was living with them for two days, kuch aur hoti toh pata chal jata.” Purvi hit on her head and went out.

“Haan so I’m not doubting him. Voh bas kabhi yeh naam suna nahi maine Rey se.” Taani followed her out.

“Chale?” Sid asked them.

“Abhi bhai aur bhabhi?” Taani asked.

“I have informed them. Aana hoga toh aajayenge.”

…

“Tum sab yahan?” Rey asked opening the door.

“Armaan ne bataya nahi?” Sid questioned.

“Nahi, bhai ka koi phone.. F*ck!” Rey widened his eyes as he realized that Armaan’s number is still blocked.

“Hume andar aane dega?” Sid eyed him.

“Haan chalo na.” He moved aside and let them in.

“Baaki sab kahan hai?” Taani asked looking around.

“Kaun?” He narrowed his eyes.

“Aunty, Simmi, Rinni? Voh dono yahin ruki thi na?”

“Maa office gayi hai. Aur Simmi Rinni yahan temporary ruke the. They moved out long back.” He informed. “Waise tum teeno hi aaye? Shivam, Abhi, Nikki nahi aaye?”

“Bhai wedding planner se milne gaye hai. Abhi bhai aur Nikki bhabhi nahi aa rahe. Bhabhi is drained out and bhai is taking care of her.” Taani informed.

“Ek aur baar tune phone kiya toh I swear I’ll break it!” Armaan entered glaring at Sharon. Swayam followed them in.

“Bhai!” Rey widened his eyes and gulped.

“AB please ek last time.” Sharon pleaded.

“Sharon, uncle ko doctor ne rest karne bola hai. Kyun call karke disturb kar rahi ho?” Swayam tried to reason with her.

“What are you doing here?” Rey asked her sarcastically.

“Rey!” Taani elbowed him. “Hey Sharon, kaisi ho?” She then greeted her.

“I’m fine.” She sneered at Rey and sat down on the couch. The rest of them also settled in.

“Chal yeh dono bhi aagaye abhi baki sab ko bhi bula. My dance lessons are still pending. College se seekha rahe ho mujhe.” Sid rolled his eyes at Rey.

“Haan aur tumhari friend ko bhi neeche bulao na.” Purvi insisted referring to Riri.

“Haan hum sab bhi mil lenge usse.” Taani tried to maintain an indifferent tone but Rey caught onto it.

“Friend?” They all wondered.

Rey looked from a partially jealous Taani to everyone’s curious faces. They all had a question about who this new friend was. He looked at Armaan and smirked inwardly.

“Riri!” Rey called out loud.

Swayam and Sharon grinned widely and gave a knowing look to Rey. Armaan gave Rey a death glare and then shifted his focus to Riri who was walking down the stairs.

“What happened?” Riri asked, still not noticing anyone.

“Everyone wants to meet you.” Rey chuckled as she looked up and froze on her place.

“Hey Riri, wahan kyun ruki ho? Come join us.” Sharon smiled widely at her.

“Tum jaanti ho usse?” Taani asked Sharon.

“Yeah, she was living with Rey in London.” Sharon answered still smiling.

“We’ve heard so much about you. Finally, aaj mulakaat hogayi.” Swayam smiled at Riri.

“Tum toh bol rahi thi sirf friend hai. Yeh toh saat rehte the London mein.” Taani whispered to Purvi.

“Roommates honge yaar. Teri kyun itni jal rahi hai?” Purvi giggled.

“Riri meet my luv, Taani.” Rey introduced them making Taani blush.

“Hi.” She managed to say amidst her blush.

“So nice to finally meet you. Heard so much about you.” Riri greeted Taani. Taani smiled back.

“Also, meet Sharon, Swayam, Sid and bhai!” Rey smirked.

“Hi, Armaan. Nice to meet you.” Armaan forwarded his hand at her.

“If he happens to kill me, take my body back to London and bury me there.” Riri whispered to Rey.

She then moved forward and shook hands with Armaan, forcing a smile at him.

“Rey tumne kabhi bataya nahi Riri ke baare mein.” Taani eyed Rey and Purvi nearly slapped her forehead.

“Exactly Rey, you never mentioned her.” Armaan raised his brow.

“Bata dega, par pehle Riri ko baithne to do.” Sid smiled at her. “Hi I’m Sid, Armaan’s best friend.”

“I know.” She muttered.

“You know?” He asked.

“Haan tum sabke baare mein bataya hai isne.” She smiled at them.

“Rey, you were calling everyone na? Sab mil bhi lenge isse.” Sid asked Rey.

“Aashi ko chodke sab apne ghar gaye hai aur voh bhi busy hai. So, koi nahi aa raha.” Rey informed.

“Aashi? Armaan yeh wahin hai na?” Sid looked at Armaan.

“Yes absolutely!” Armaan smirked at Rey.

Armaan gave him a challenging look while Rey just pleaded him to not say anything. He had not yet told Taani about it and didn’t want her to be mad at him again.

“Bhai don’t!” Rey said.

“Kya don’t? Uss love story ke baare mein toh poori duniya ko pata hai.” Sid chuckled.

“Love story?” Taani narrowed her eyes at Rey.

“Oh, tujhe nahi pata uss epic love story ke baare mein?” Sid chuckled followed by others.

Taani, Riri and Purvi looked at them weirdly making them laugh even more.

“Why are you guys laughing?” Riri asked.

“Kyun? Hasne ke liye terese permission leni hogi?” Armaan snapped at her.

Sid, Taani and Purvi widened their eyes at him.

“You guys carry on. I’ll be in the backyard.” Riri excused herself.

“Bhai yaar, why are you doing this?” Rey looked at Armaan.

“Tu mujhe mat seekha ki kya karna hai.” Armaan glared at him.

“Fine, just know ki Maa ko doubt aaya hai. If she asks me again, main bata dunga ki mera Riri ke saath rishta kya hai.” Rey warned him.

“AB go and talk to her na. Itni bhi buri nahi hai voh.” Sharon coaxed and Swayam nodded.

Taani was putting pieces together from their conversation when suddenly Sid exclaimed.

“Riri teri girlfriend hai?” Sid looked at Armaan.

“Uske jaisi girlfriend hone se better hai ki main akela hi rahu!” Armaan gritted his teeth.

Riri had entered inside to apologize for leaving abruptly when she heard Armaan’s words.

“Thanks Armaan for making it clear to me. Main hi faltu ke hopes leke baithi thi. Sorry Rey, I know you wanted me to be here for your engagement, but I can’t stay back. I’m leaving.” Riri headed upstairs.

“Riddhima!” Armaan held his head as he realized what he said and followed her.

“Riddhima?” Taani questioned Rey.

“Uska real name. London mein it’s difficult for people to say it so she shortened it to Riri.” Swayam answered.

“So, you guys knew all this?” Taani asked Swayam and Sharon.

“Bhai ka London visa expire hone wala jhoot yeh dono ne pakad liya and they confronted him. He answered. Meko mat aise dekh!” Rey quickly defended himself as Taani turned to question him.

…

“Riddhima, why did you come here?” Armaan entered her room.

“I came here to get back my love but apparently he doesn’t want me anymore.” She sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. “When did you stop loving me, Armaan?”

“I haven’t.” He sat next to her. “But then again I have no say in this!” He added bitterly.

“That’s not true. It was a slip of tongue. I didn’t intend to say all that.”

“I know you were just picking up a fight to keep me away, but what you said then was what you felt.”

“Aisa nahi hai.” She protested.

“Kis se jhoot bol rahi ho? Tujhe sachme laga ki main tumse pyaar nahi karta? It’s just sympathy? That’s what you think of me?”

“I know that you love me Armaan, and I do too. I was just scared. Mujhe darr lagne laga tha ki kahi tum bhi mujhe baki sab ki tarah akela chod ke na chale jao.”

“Yeh darr achanak kyun?”

“I had met my birth mother on my way home that day. She talked about how sorry she was for marrying my father and for birthing me. She was sorry that I had to live in foster. Talking with her made me feel unwanted. I felt like a burden. And then at night when you came home and were being your usual loving self with me I felt like you were being cheated. You deserved someone better in life, someone not broken as me.” She sobbed.

“And so, you decided to call my love as sympathy towards you. You claimed that I pitied you and hence was in a relationship with you? That’s an amazing character certificate I’ve ever received in my life!” His voice raised with every sentence he spoke. “Tum yeh kitni aasaani se bhool gayi ki tumhare life ke baare mein tumhi ne mujhe relationship ke six months baad bataya. How could you call this a pity relationship?”

“Yes, I was wrong in blaming you. Par tumne kya kiya? You just accepted those accusations? Kya kaha tha dating no one is better than dating me?” She too raised her voice.

“Yes it is! At least there’ll be no one to throw accusations at me!”

“Well you saying that just confirmed all my stupidity. And by the time I realized it, you had left me like everyone else!” She blamed him.

“Oh, how convenient, apni galati accept karne ki jagah tum mujhe blame kar rahi ho?”

“All you can see is how I was wrong. Six months se apni galati fix karne ki koshish kar rahi hoon voh nahi dikh raha?”

“Kya fix kiya? Abhi bhi tum mujhe hi blame kar rahi ho!” He shouted.

“Bhaad mein jao!” She stormed out of her room and went next door into Rey’s.

“Address toh batati jao!” Armaan yelled from the door and banged it shut.

“What is going on?” Sid questioned as they witnessed the scene.

“Jhagad rahe hai, which is a sign that they’ll get back to normal soon.” Rey shook his head.

“Are they really serious?” Sid confirmed.

“I know it doesn’t seem so, but yes.” Rey nodded.

“Hmn.” Sid forced a smile at him and looked away.

“Come on Sid, you knew this was coming. Bhai humesha ke liye toh akela nahi rahega na. I’m sorry.” Rey hugged Sid.

“I knew this would come, it’s just kabhi usse aise dekha nahi hai.” Sid sighed.

“Abhi tumhe aadat daalni padegi. We’re no longer in college.” Rey smiled at him.

“Yaar tum dono bhaiyon ka mujhe nahi samajhta. Ek voh jo kabhi koi serious relationship mein gaya nahi because of me aur tu, jo ek fake relationship mein gaya because of me!” Sid shook his head.

“What?” Taani looked at them.

“Tune bataya nahi isse?” Sid asked Rey.

“Pehle pata hota ki teri behen hai toh bata deta. I didn’t say anything because it wasn’t my secret to tell.” Rey shrugged.

“What are you guys talking about?” Taani asked.

…

|| Five Years Ago ||

“How could you be so careless?” Abhi yelled at Sid.

“Bhai sorry na.”

“Sorry? Are you for real?” Abhi glared at him.

“Mujhe thodi pata tha yeh sab hojayega. But please help me. Dad tak yeh baat pahuchi toh god knows what he’ll do.” Sid pleaded.

“Toh yeh sab pehle sochna chahiye tha!” Abhi shouted.

“Abhi relax.” Nikki tried to calm him.

“What relax? Ghar pe problems kya kam hai jo yeh aur badha raha hai? Aur rahi baat dad ki toh, he had to know someday.” Abhi sat down frustrated at Sid.

“Hua kya hai jo itni tension le rahe ho?” Muskaan asked.

“Look at this.” Armaan showed a picture on his phone.

“Hey guys!” Rey entered the house to find them all seated in the living room. “Any problem?” He asked studying their faces.

“Tu currently AGS hai na? College magazine ki publication date postpone kar sakta hai?” Armaan questioned Rey.

“Not going to happen. Magazine already late hai. But hua kya hai?” Rey asked.

“Magazine cover dekh ke sabko Sid ke baare mein pata chalne wala hai.” Armaan informed.

“You can’t make out that it’s me.” Sid argued.

“What are you guys talking about?” Rey asked.

“Well aaj mein college gaya tha and I happened to bump into Dhruv, your GS. Baato baato mein he asked me if I wanted to look at the magazine. Editing chal rahi thi but I saw the cover and the headline: Who is this mystery man?” Armaan showed the photo which he had managed to snap on his phone.

“Yeh reunion party wali hai na? And are you sure if that’s Sid?” Rey questioned.

“Jacket dekh! He was wearing it that day. Luckily none of us have uploaded any pics on facebook. But someone might aur sabko pata chal jayega.” Armaan informed.

“I understand that’s a scandalous pic, par voh jisse kiss kar raha hai uska face nahi dikh raha aur na hi Sid ka!” Rey argued.

“Theek se dekh. You’ll be able to kind of guess that it’s a guy.” Abhi said. “Aur since no one knows at college apart from you guys and most importantly since isne abhi tak dad ko bataya nahi hai, he can get into a lot of trouble!”

“Bhai aise mat bolo, please.” Sid started to worry.

“Main try karta hoon to get the cover changed.” Rey told them.

“Don’t! Editor voh Veer hai jo teri baat sunega nahi. Aur possible hai ki he gets who is in the photo and the headline might change to: Siddhant Modi caught kissing a guy!” Armaan stopped him.

“Teko party ke beech mein kiss karna jaruri tha?” Abhi sneered at Sid.

“What’s done is done. Isko fix karne ke liye kisi ke paas ideas hai toh batao.” Nikki tried to calm everyone down.

“Let me check with Dhruv ki magazine publish hone mein aur kitne din hai.” Rey excused himself.

Armaan saw him walking out and then again looked at the picture on his phone. He went through a few other pictures and a grin appeared on his face as an idea cooked up in his head.

“Khud hi haste rahega ya batayega hume ki idea kya hai?” Nikki narrowed her eyes at Armaan.

“Guys bad news. It’s coming out on Monday!” Rey entered and informed them.

“Shit! We just have three days! I’m screwed!” Sid held his head.

“Well good luck. Just hope that no one figures it out!” Abhi mocked him.

“I have a plan.” Armaan stood up rubbing his hands.

“Which is?” Muskaan asked.

“Sid, Rey, stand up and turn around.” He instructed them.

“What?” Rey asked getting up.

“Not a word. Do as I say!” He made them stand with their back towards them and called the rest of them to where he was standing.

“What now?” Nikki asked.

“Look!” He gestured at the two.

“Kya?” They all asked.

“Abey andho theek se dekho!”

“Dono ka haircut same hone ki wajah se they look kind of same from here.” Nikki stated. “So?”

“Itna dimaag chala liya, thoda aur use karti.” Armaan mocked.

“Kya bol rahe ho tum log?” Sid turned around frustrated.

“Ruk!” Armaan made him turn again and clicked both Sid and Rey’s picture and showed everyone.

“Bhai what are you thinking?” Rey narrowed his eyes at Armaan as he had a hunch of what was coming his way.

“Its simple.” Armaan grinned at him. “Since you two look almost the same and since Rey was wearing a jacket similar to Sid’s on that day we’ll put it out that the mystery guy is Rey!”

“You just said that you can make out that he is kissing a guy. Meri kyu band baja rahe ho?” Rey backed off.

“Haan Armaan usko kyun phasa raha hai. I’ll handle jo hoga voh.” Sid said dejectedly.

“Let me complete. We’ll take a similar pic of Rey with some girl and send it to Veer. I’m pretty sure that’ll be a spicier story than this.” Armaan wiggled his brows.

“And who will be this lucky girl?” Rey mocked.

“I’m sure she’ll be lucky.” Muskaan chuckled earning Rey’s glare.

“He has a point. Hum kisiko bhi uthake pic nahi le sakte, given his history.” Sid stated.

“Haan toh koi random ladki kyun chahiye. D3 se hi lenge. That way it’ll be believable.” Armaan suggested.

“No, no, no, no, no, no.” Rey protested. “Again, if you didn’t hear it, NO!”

“Call everyone here. We’ll talk to them and decide.” Armaan told him ignoring his protest.

“I’m not calling anyone.” Rey folded his arms.

“Fine, I’ll do it.” Armaan pulled out his phone and sent a message. “And done!”

“Bhai?” Rey looked at him with disbelief.

“What? You should be thanking me. This way college ki girls tera peecha chod degi.” Armaan presented him with a different angle.

“Well if you put it that way, it sounds appealing. But still yeh sab meko karna jaruri hai? It can be you as well.”

“Maine haircut nahi karwaya hota toh maybe it would have been possible. And since we have no time, this is the last option.” Armaan made him understand.

“Kyu force kar raha hai tu usse. I told you, let it be. If my sexuality has to come out this way, be it.” Sid sighed.

“No, Veer doesn’t get to decide that. The plan is on!” Rey agreed.

Soon everyone arrived. Armaan narrated them the problem and the solution that he had come up with.

“AB idea bura nahi hai, but no one will buy the story.” Sharon told him.

“Exactly! Even though all of us are always together, Rey is either with Sharon or Aashi.” Swayam agreed with Sharon. “And Sharon aur Rey ke beech yeh love angle is impossible, everyone knows that!”

“Aur Aashi?” Armaan looked at Aashi.

“Bhai, Rey aur main sirf dance partners hai.” Aashi told him.

“But you guys have chemistry, so you wanted to see if things work out between you. Hence you are dating. Perfect story!” Armaan grinned.

“Haan chemistry toh hai.” Vicky took Armaan’s side.

“Aur tum dono ne voh play mein bhi ek couple play kiya tha. This will totally work out.” Nil chipped in.

“What play?” Nikki asked.

“Arre last year Diwali pe Ramleela mein yeh dono hi toh the humare Ram aur Sita.” Nil informed.

“NO!” Rey and Aashi said together.

“Dono ke thoughts bhi kitne match karte hai.” Swayam said slyly. “Let’s do this!”

“I hate you guys!” Rey glared at them all.

“Yaar main kyun? Voh Ramleela ke baad voh sab ladkiya mujhe ghoor ghoor ke dekhti thi abhi toh maar hi dalegi mujhe!” Aashi sulked.

“See perfect! Everyone will easily believe it!” Simmi high-fived Sharon.

“I know I’m asking a lot from you guys but abhi mom and dad ke beech problems chal rahe hai and iss sab mein if he comes to know that I’m gay, he’ll just leave us. So please?” Sid looked at them with hopeful eyes.

Rey and Aashi looked at him and then at each other and sighed.

“Only on one condition.” Rey said and looked at Aashi.

“Tum logon mein se koi bhi chidhayega nahi hume.” Aashi warned them.

“Arre believable lagna chahiye. Chidhayenge nahi toh kaise chalega.” Bharat chuckled.

“Great! Abhi just ek kaam bachta hai.” Armaan grinned.

“Kya?” Rey looked at him.

“Photoshoot!” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

“Yeh sab plan mein nahi tha.” Aashi argued.

“Tum dono ke face jisme dikh rahe ho wahi pic se hi toh sabko pata chalega!” Nil grinned from ear to ear.

“Humari toh lagne wali hai!” Rey looked at Aashi and they both held their heads.

They did a photoshoot in the rehearsal hall at Rey’s house where they created the environment which was at the party. They managed to click a few pictures in which it looked like Rey and Aashi are kissing each other on the dance floor.

“Great we finally have one!” Armaan showed them the picture.
Rey and Aashi cringed at it while other burst out laughing seeing their faces. Sid went up to them and thanked them for helping him out.

“Yeh image Veer tak jayegi kaise?” Neha asked.

“Email! Main koi fake id banake usse bhej dunga. Aur yeh picture toh cover worthy hai and way better than the one he has. Also, I’ll add the headline for him: Sorry girls, he’s not single anymore!” Armaan patted his own back as he came up with it.

“Bohot wahiyad hai!” Rey made a face.

…

“Teasing these two was so much fun!” Sharon laughed.

“College mein itne ladkiyon ke heart break huye the na uss din. Har koi humse aake confirm kar raha tha yeh news.” Swayam joined.

“Aur tum log bhi kam nahi the. Especially Nil and Vicky. Dono ko pakad ke maarne ka mann karta tha.” Rey rolled his eyes as he saw Taani too laughing with them.

“You guys were crazy.” Purvi said amidst laughing.

“Abhi lagta hai kya fyada hua iss sab ka? Dad toh pehle hi chale gaye.” Sid rolled his eyes.

“Siddo.” Taani placed her hand on his.

“I’m fine.” He smiled at her.

“Arre bohot bada fayda hua. Rey aur Aashi ke account se hume jo status dalne ke mauke mile na, oh ho ho ho. Too good!” Swayam laughed reminiscing.

“Status?” Taani remembered reading a few posts on Rey's profile in the past.

“Haan, where he called her his girlfriend and what not. God I miss those days!” Sharon smiled.

“I don’t. Namoona bana diya tha mujhe.” Rey sulked.

“Awe!” Taani cooed him and then burst out laughing followed by everyone.

Hello everyone

I am very skeptical about this update. So, if you don't like it as much just let it pass by this time. Filler chapter samajh lena. This had to happen now, I didn't want to start with the engagement preparations and keep adding these conversations in between. Having said that, few conversations will follow

Am I even making sense? Half of you aren't going to read this anyway. So, whatever

Please comment down below

Posted: July 6, 2019