#TejRan - The After Series

After the Shoot - Part 2

Karan was waiting for her in their room in the villa they were staying in. He had a towel wrapped around his bare shoulders. They were to shoot their final shot for the day. Teju was changing into her swim wear and it was making him anxious sand excited at the same time.

Anxious because everyone would get to see her. Nervous because he's yet to see her in something like this. Sure, he had seen her more clearly than anyone has ever had but everytime she wore something new, it made his heart go faster. He called out to her asking her to hurry, reminding her that the shot was ready. She was usually the first one to get ready for shots, a stark contrast from their time in BB where she was always late. He heard no sound for inside and went to the changing room to check on her. The door was unlocked and she was standing there in front of the mirror staring at herself.

Karan's breath caught in his throat when he saw her standing there in that warm light. How is every color her color? There she is in aquamarine blue looking like she was born from the sea. And that morning she had a worn a yellowish dress and the sun seemed dimmer in front of her. He touched the wooden door thanking his lucky stars. He walked over to her and stood behind her putting his arms on her shoulders and looking at her through the reflection.

"What happened Baby?" he asked her in a soft voice knowing that something is bothering her. She looked back at him through the mirror. "Memories" she said her voice lost before it took form. Karan was confused now. He didn't know what memories she was talking about.

She turned to face him taking his hand and guiding it to the scar hidden behind her ear. "You remember asking me once, how I got this? We were at one of his friend's pre wedding party. Everyone were chilling in the pool. So I also went to join them in my swimwear. Something very similar to what I'm wearing now. He didn't say anything. He acted normal. But as soon as we went to our room, he pulled me by my hair and slammed me against the wall. He started yelling about how I was embarassing him by being an actress and now because of this dress. I was bleeding and he didn't even realise. He just kept shouting. I waited till he was done and feel asleep. Then I took a cab and left from there. That's the last I saw of Mayank"

Karan didn't have words. A thousand things were fighting for attention in his head. Finding Mayank and showing him how it feels to be slammed against the wall is something he wanted to do that very moment. But with difficulty he pushed that thought aside and pulled Teja into a hug kissing her forehead.

"Teju, Tejasswi.. look at me.. you don't need anyone's permission to wear whatever the fuck you want. Not mine, not your dad's, nor your brother's. I will never stop you from being you. I might make fun of you but you can ask me to shut up. This is your body. You decide what to do with it. No one, especially men have no say over it. Okay? And I'll never, not even in my dreams hurt you physically. I'd rather die"

"I know Sunny. That's why I'm experimenting now. I'd have never agreed to pool scenes before. But with you, I finally feel free to explore what I like and don't. If I fail you'll catch me and if I succeed you'll cheer me on. You ready to go?"

It took Karan a second to realise she was talking about the shot, having forgotten about it completely. He gave her a peck on her cheeks and they made their way down to the pool. A cheer went up when the crew, fully made of men, spotted them. Karan waved at them laughing, "Guys, I know you are drooling over me being shirtless. But don't make the lady feel bad. She already thinks I'm prettier than her"

Karan unknown to him, picked the wrong spot to crack this joke and only realised it when his body hit the water and heard Teja's laugh from the pool edge. Before he could get some air she jumped in after him and pulled him up. They were in a precarious position and the director shouted rolling and action reminding them that there were people watching.

Teja put one of her arms around his shoulders and locked her legs around his hips. They were dangerously close and it was getting hard for both of them to focus on what they were supposed to do. Luckily for them the director had asked them to be themselves and the crew was silent as the sea.

She was looking at him, thinking back on her past counting her lucky stars. She had had her doubts when they started. Looking at his possessive side, she wondered if she was just doing the same thing again. But Karan's complaints about sharing her stopped right were her work started. He had sat her down and told her clearly that he had no problems with anything that she wanted to explore and ad had asked her about what she didn't want to see him doing.

She wiped away water from near his eyebrows, letting her hand stay there for longer than needed. Them looking at each other would have set fire to the pool if possible. Karan moved one of his hands to her thighs pulling her closer, a feat that looked impossible to onlookers. Teja's hand wanted to compete and moved to his chest slowly making its way down.

"Karan Bhai, turn this side. Lighting theek nahi hai" Omi shouted from near the director, effectively breaking the spell they were under. Teju realised what had happened and immediately started making jokes to cover up her embarassment. Karan however was not ready to get out of the zone he was in.

He looked at her red cheeks, the blush from her embarassment and the water drops making it look like something straight from god's hands. And it's his. He kissed her unable to stop him self. She kept speaking in her broken Punjabi not realising what it was doing to her. His lips refused to leave her cheeks and he was more than ready to carry her to their room. However Teja wanted to do a photoshoot and he yelled at Nikhil to hurry up.

Soon they were done and the crew had left them alone finally. Teja was sitting on the pool ledge, a glass of champagne in her hand and Karan was in the pool his arms around her waist, looking up at her moonlit face.

Looking at her, he couldn't fathom how someone could even think of hurting her. He had realised in the time that he had spent with her inside and outside that she's the purest person he had met. There's something otherworldly about her and he was in awe of it. To hear that this girl, his girl had been hurt physically provoked a guilt in him that had no reason or logic whatsoever.

His mind was scolding him for not reaching out to her after LVG. If he had he could have prevented that from happening. He couldn't explain it, but he felt like she was sent here for him and it was his purpose in life to love her. Everytime he slipped and hurt her, it hurt him physically and he was slowly learning that spiritually, emotinally this is what he was looking for all his life.

"Teju, I'm sorry that happened to you. And I'm sorry I hurt you at times. Don't think for a second that I've taken you for granted. I thank the god every second for you"

"Baby, you don't hurt me. We have arguments. It's normal. I love you"

"I love you more"

"Not possible" she said with her smile that gave light to this otherwise dark world.

"You ready to go in?" he asked her, his grip on her waist tightening.

"Mmm yeah" she replied leaving the legend and climbing on him knowing he will carry her.

Their night turned crazy once they made their way into the room, but Teju didn't realise that Karan was looking for more scars in addition to what he was doing otherwise. He was scared he would find more, but god seemed to have mercy and luckily there were none. He felt proud that she left at the first sign and vowed to never let that happen to her again.

Teja reminded him that she was going home tomorrow, indicating his idle hands and he got to work, the night slowly but surely getting into their top 10 list.

Author's Note : Congratulations on 10 Million Fam. This is for all of you❤️