Chapter 22
TANISHA
Tani smiled, danced, and spoke her heart out for the next few hours but inside everything she was, everything she knew, everything she felt, was crumbling into grey ash. Her choice, she reminded herself as she allowed an elderly aunt to pull her in for a forehead kiss.
Dusk settled over the lawns, the first stars twinkling out as more people joined them.
A loud cheer went up as Jay and his friends and family arrived.
She grinned through her heartache as she watched her brother and friends pull him in for a dance.
He was a good sport and danced his heart away in his own tone deaf, uncoordinated way.
And this was what she wanted. Uncomplicated vibes and someone who showed up for her every single time.
Kabir showed up for you too, her mind whispered.
She shoved that thought away, hitching up her long skirts and running across the lawn to join the dancing.
Jay swept her up into a hug and stepped on her foot at the same time.
She winced but continued smiling, her brother barging in to grab her and swing her around with a lot more coordination.
She laughed out loud as Rehan swung her one last time and into her father’s arms. Karam grinned, as he drew her into an intricate choreography.
Tani threw her head back, laughed and moved with him, her heart feeling like it would burst from the pain and happiness flooding it, a toxic mix that stung and burned.
She didn’t realise that tears had escaped her iron control, streaming down her cheeks as she laughed, until her father thumbed them away gently.
Tani pulled back, flustered, wiping her cheeks dry as she shouldered past him and towards where Jay’s parents stood, watching the merriment with a disapproving frown.
She bent to touch their feet, accepting their stiff blessings, before making some polite chit chat.
Just when she thought she might die of boredom, her mother walked over and asked them to join the others for dinner.
Tani watched them go with guilty relief.
“Bonding with the in laws, huh?” Kanak came to stand beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
“Well,” Tani sighed. “I was trying. I don’t think any bonding happened.”
“Don’t sweat it, sweetie.” Kanak squeezed her tight. “It will happen when it happens. And I know that it will happen soon.”
“Oh?” Tani laughed. “How do you know that?”
“You’re very lovable.” Kanak squinted towards where Jay’s parents sat with loaded plates. “If those two tight arses can’t see it, I’ll make sure they do.”
“Stop threatening the in laws, darling.” Aakash came to stand beside Tani.
“Like you wouldn’t do the same,” Kanak scoffed.
“I wouldn’t,” Aakash said. “I don’t waste time with threats.”
Tani choked out a laugh. “Stop it both of you. I’m trying to be good.”
“Oh baby.” Kanak kissed the top of her head, almost disappearing into the wild tangle of Tani’s curls. “You are the best. There is no trying involved in that.”
“And they will see you for the treasure you are,” Aakash added, though his thoughtful gaze was fixed on Jay’s parents as they ate their dinner, deep in intense conversation with each other.
A loud bang erupted from somewhere in the driveway and Aakash spun on his heel, squinting into the distance to see what was happening.
It looked a lot like a Porsche had just driven up.
As they watched, a familiar, grumpy figure unfolded himself from the car and stalked over to where Ved was standing.
His previously pristine white kurta was looking rather the worse for wear but it had nothing on the annoyed repentance on his face.
“And the prodigal son returns,” Kanak murmured with a smile.
“He wasn’t gone long enough to be prodigal,” Aakash muttered caustically, watching father and son talk to each other.
Whatever Kabir had to say lightened the tight lines on Ved’s face and he pulled his son in for a rough hug.
Over his father’s shoulder, Kabir’s gaze tracked and found Tani.
Her clenched heart slowly unfurled in her chest.
Kanak exhaled. “Now, the family is complete,” she said quietly.
“Complete, yes,” Aakash replied, his voice dark with unspoken thoughts and worries, “but, also completely mad. We’ll have to see what the madness brings.”
“Don’t be a grinch,” Kanak chided. “Everything is calm and happy right now.”
Aakash’s shrewd eyes went from Tani to Kabir, their gazes locked on each other like magnets. “The calm before the storm,” he murmured.
“Tanisha!” Jay walked up to where they stood. He bent at the waist to touch Aakash and Kanak’s feet. Kanak jumped back in her heels, muttering, “A hug is good enough. I’m not the feet touching or to be touched type.”
“Could I steal Tanisha away from you?” Jay asked with a jovial smile.
Aakash raised his brows, looking at Tani’s tense face. “That would be up to her, I think,” he answered.
Tani looked away from Kabir and turned to Jay, beads of sweat lining her forehead at the effort it took to turn away from the man who was looking at her with an unreadable gaze.
“Of course,” she answered with a smile, allowing Jay to take her hand and draw her away from Aakash and Kanak. She could feel Kabir’s gaze boring into her back but she forced herself not to turn, not to seek him out like the lodestone he was in her heart. “What’s up?”
“I missed you,” Jay murmured, looking down at her intently, a strange expression in his eyes.
Tani laughed uneasily. “I’ve been right here.”
“Yes, but,” Jay cupped her face with his palm, “I still feel miles away from you.”
Tani smiled, her hand going to circle his wrist. “Once the ceremonies are over, and we’re married, we have all the time in the world to be together.” Why did that thought make her stomach hollow out?
“Give me something to hold me till then,” Jay murmured, dipping his head to hers.
“Jay!” Tani reared back, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment and her hand going to his chest to hold him back. “Our families are watching.”
“Good,” he said, an odd note in his voice, something almost sly slipping through it. “I want them to watch. All of them.”
Before she could process his strange words, his lips were on hers, one hand holding her to him tightly. Tani struggled, turning her face away from his, and shoving him away as gently as she could. Jay, however, held on, like an octopus wrapping his tentacles around her.
“Stop it,” she hissed at him angrily. He glared at her, his face red and shiny with sweat and exertion.
“You’re my wife,” he snapped.
“Not yet,” she snapped back, like a Victorian maiden. Oh God, her entire family was watching this.
But before it could escalate any further, another voice broke in. “Tan Tan,” Vikram said, his voice calmly furious. “Your mom sent me to get you. Something about washing the haldi off or something…”
Jay let go of her and she took a stumbling step back.
Vikram’s hand came to rest on her back, supporting her gently and unobtrusively.
She spun on her heel, turning towards the house, not wanting to meet anyone’s eyes but, as always, her gaze was captured by his.
And this time, his eyes were not unreadable.
They boiled over with the furies of hell itself.
She wrenched her gaze from his, humiliation burning red crests of colour into her turmeric covered cheeks.
“I walked as fast as I could,” Vikram said conversationally, as they made their way toward the house. “Didn’t want the bridegroom to be impaled on a guitar or something.”
Tani managed a strangled sound, caught somewhere between laughter and tears.
“It’s okay Tan,” Vikram murmured, as they reached the house and stepped into the foyer.
“Is it?” she asked, rage taking the place of the humiliation that had surged through her. “How is it okay?” She came to a stop and whirled around, facing Vikram.
His calm gaze scanned her face. “It’s not,” he said simply. “Not if it affects you like this. But the real question is what are you going to do about it?”
Her chest heaved with suppressed emotion as she stared at Vikram. She saw the same fury in his eyes as she felt burning in her heart.
“Want me to go back and punch him?” he offered.
“I have a better idea,” Rehan said, appearing out of nowhere like he always did. “Let’s tase his arse.”
Vikram and Tani stared at him. “Tase?” they both demanded at the same time.
“Rehan Bakshi.” Tani advanced on her brother. “Where the hell did you get a taser from?”
Rehan backed up, his hands up in the air in a gesture of surrender. “Calm down,” he said with a placating smile. “It’s not a very powerful one.”
“Rehaaan!” Tani shrieked.
“Okay, okay,” Rehan muttered hastily. “No tasing. I guess, no pepper spray either?”
Tani stared at him wordlessly for a moment and then she said, “I’m telling Dad.” She turned to march out of the house.
“No!” Rehan jumped in front of her, barring her path to the front door. “We won’t do anything to your fellow. But, you have to do something for me in return.”
“In your fucking dreams,” Tani muttered. “I don’t know what you’re up to but-“
“A night of fun, Tani,” Rehan cut her off. “Just us, the OG gang. Well, everyone but Kabir. I already asked him and he said no.”
Tani shook her head, sighing. “Reh, I’m exhausted. I just want to get some sleep and forget about everything for a bit.”
“No sleep,” he said. “But I promise you’ll forget about everything for one night. Come on, Tan Tan, one night. Before you get married and be all boring and mature. One night with the gang. Let’s make it ours.”
She looked over at Vikram who shrugged and smiled. “Why not?” he said. “A last night with us before you become Tanisha Malhotra.”
Her stomach revolted at the idea of that surname, but she nodded. Rehan let out a loud, victory cry that had her shaking her head wryly. At least she knew Kabir wouldn’t be there, so it was one less stress to deal with. Maybe a night out with her friends and family was exactly what she needed.
“This is going to be brilliant!” Rehan crowed. “I have everything planned out!”
Oh no! Tanisha’s heart sank at his words. “What do you have planned out?” she asked cautiously.
Rehan winked. “Wait and watch. It’s going to be the night of your life, of all of our lives.”
Oh bloody hell!