#TejRan - The After Series

After The Win

She looked around for him and saw him looking at her. He was standing with Vidhi who was talking on the phone. She made her way over to him. "Sunny, are you okay?"

He smiled at her and said "Haan baby, I'm okay. Don't worry about me. This is your moment, go enjoy it"

"There's an after party by Salman sir, you'll go with me?"

"I want to, but honestly I can't. I have terrible fatigue and don't want to do anything but sleep now."

"If you're not going, I don't want to go"

"You can't skip it baby, it's for you. Go na.  I'll meet you tomorrow."

With that, he gave her a soft kiss on her cheeks and left through the door. Teja told Vidhi she'll meet her in the party and went to her parents to handover the trophy. Her heart heavy and angry for what they did to her Sunny.

She put on a smile though and faced the people who wanted to bring her down. One more night and then she wouldn't have to deal with any of them.

The party was a bore. People were getting drunk and brazen. Teja kept rubbing her arms. It was so cold there. And she didn't have him for warmth. She kept looking at the clock to see if she could leave and not appear disrespectful. When the clock hit 5 am and people were too drunk to notice her leaving, she slipped out and went to her allocated car.

"Bhaiya, I'm ready to leave"

"Haan ji madam, goregaon right?"

"No versova, take me to Karan's house. Do you know where that is?"

"Haan ji, I know the apartment. But I don't know which flat"

"It's okay. Let's go"

She got in the back seat and laid back. She should have left earlier. She was feeling withdrawals already. Her heart ached for him. She knew he wanted to be on that stage with her. And yet he was so happy for her. And despite winning she was so sad for him. She was also a bit scared if this would drive him away. But her heart screamed no. He wouldn't. He was hers. She would fight for him if she has to.

"Madam, we are here"

She opened her eyes to see them parked out of an apartment. "Can you tell the watchman that it's me and ask him the flat number?"

The driver got out to do the same and the watchman came to check it was really her.

"Namaste madam. Sir's flat number is 610. It's on the sixth floor. Come with me. I'll show you the lifts"

She thanked him and followed to elevator. She was on the sixth floor now and her heart thudded with each step. She realised her friends and parents are there. What would they say? But she needed to see him. Make sure he's okay. She was finally in front of 610 and rang the door bell.

After 2 minutes a guy opened the door. She was still in her black swan dress and looked really out of place. The guy got it of his shock and asked her to come in.

"Everyone is sleeping. That's Bhai's room" he said without her asking. He somehow sensed she didn't want to talk.

Teja went to the room pointed and opened it. It was semi dark. The moon light from the windows showed his outline on the bed. He was sleeping. She went to the bed and sat down next to him. She squashed down the doubts that were coming up and placed her hands on his cheek.

He stirred and pulled her hand closer. It took him a whole minute to realise and he opened his eyes in confusion. "Ladoo?" he mumbled looking at the hand he was holding. He finally looked up at her. And kept looking. She looked back at him. Tense. Nervous.

He sighed and pulled her closer to him. She was lying down now. He laid on her partially and buried his face in her neck. His arms were around her waist. "How are you here? Why?"

"I asked the production driver to take me. Why? Where else would I go?"

"What time is it?" He asked not moving from her neck. "It's around five thirty. I'm sorry I woke you up. I wanted to see you and make sure you were okay. I wanted to be okay"

"You are here, and therefore I'm okay" he lifted his face from her neck and turned her face towards him. "I'll be okay as long as I have you" with that he leaned down to kiss her. There were unshed tears in both of their eyes. A lot was being said through that kiss.

Apologies, confessions and dreams. He kissed her for all the times he wasn't able to and for all the times he wanted to. She kissed him for every word she didn't say and all the pain she held inside. After a lifetime, they broke apart Karan now fully awake. He looked at her and saw that she was still in her finale clothes. This girl! He fell a little harder not understanding how it was possible.

"Ladoo, you should change. This must be uncomfortable. How long were you in heels and this dress? " He stood up and went to his suitcase to look for something for her to wear. She went to stand next to him and hugged him from the side. He pulled out a neon shirt and some black pants and handed it to her with a forehead kiss and pointed the door to the washroom.

She took off her heals and placed it in a corner and made her way to the washroom. She locked the door behind her and realised where she was. She leaned on the closed door for a minute and decided what to do. They both needed comfort and only they can give it to each other. She opened the door to see him staring at it from near the bed.

"Babe, can you help me with the dress?"

He came without a word and closed the door and locked it behind him. He looked at her and her black dress. He didn't know where to start and his mind was focused elsewhere. She showed him where the hooks are on the side of the dress. Surprisingly his hands were steady as he followed her instructions.

He undid all the hooks on one side and moved to the other. He undid those as well and looked at her. She was holding the dress to keep it from falling and looked at him. They wanted the same thing and they both knew it. He stepped in front of her and touched the hand holding her dress from falling. He took her arms in his hands and moved it away from the dress.

In one smooth movement the dress fell to the floor. Her arms were still in his hands and he studied her with his eyes. She was wearing a strapless one piece bodice that covered her from chest to the start of her thighs. She was looking away from him down at the dress that had fell down. He lifted her chin up and pulled her closer. He kissed her again softer this time and tried to removed the last barrier between her skin and him.

She pushed him to stop and looked at his  clothes. He chuckled at her competitiveness and unbuttoned the night shirt he was wearing. He threw it on top of her dress. He came close and picked her up surprising her. "Sunny, what are you doing?"

"There's a perfectly nice bed out there, you know?" that stopped her from talking and he carried her out to the bed. Him in his pants and her still in her single cloth. He placed her on his bed and took a few seconds to admire the view. He didn't expect this to happen this soon. He hadn't expected her to come the same day. His love was feeling each second and he wanted to show her just how much.

He went to the bed and grabbed the bodice hiding her from him and pulled. It came apart like sand and he finally got to see her. He saw her like he has never seen anyone before. She was perfect. It wasn't fair that she was fully bare and he still had clothes on him. He removed the rest of his night wear on one go and have her a moment to get adjusted to the view. He could see her shock and allowed himself to feel a little smug. A smirk came in his face and Teju rolled her eyes at him. He felt his heart go soft looking at her. This girl, who threw away the limelight to be with him. Who gave him the entire credit for winning in front of everyone. The girl who found him and came to him to make sure he's okay.

His heart was right. She's the one. He took her face again and kissed her. He felt her shivering due to the air conditioning. He covered her with him and then converted him with a quilt. The world went dark for them but the future had never looked brighter.