Part 7 (a)
Bani
It was a little more than three months that Bani had arrived in Bangalore along with the Singh Family. The first few days were excruciating for her...she had hardly recovered from the shock of Pia running away followed by her father's untimely death and now, she had been uprooted from the comfort and security of her small-town Mukteshwar to the big, bustling metropolis of Bangalore. Everything here terrified her...the constant honking of vehicles, the unimaginable traffic on roads, the bustling crowds everywhere, the sweat and grime and most daunting and alarming to her were the people of Bangalore...that even included her childhood friend Rano and her brother Pushkar.
Every person looked so put-together...so modern...and so confident. Back in Mukteshwar, Bani had never bothered with the way she looked or what she wore, because everyone around her had been equally simple and she had never been judged on the basis of her physical appearance. Besides, after her mother's death, she had taken on the responsibility of looking after her father and sister and had never found the time to take care of herself...except when Jai had come into her life. Even after he had left Mukteshwar, the only change in Bani was that she had started running daily, much to the hilarious reactions from her neighbours, who could not imagine why she would take to waking up at odd hours in such a cold place and run around without any reason.
Even the daily running exercises had come to a stop after Pia had abruptly vanished from their home...Bani could still feel the cold pain stab her heart, when she had discovered the hastily written letter in Pia's bedroom, one morning, after she had come back home from her morning jog. Even before she could react to the shock, her father had collapsed on the ground, leaving Bani completely helpless and lost. The next few weeks leading upto her father's death were the darkest days of her life...everything was unravelling at a speed that she was simply not used to. Her days were spent trying to contact all of Pia's friends and trying to find her whereabouts, while her nights were spent tending to her ailing father...and by the time, it was morning, she could barely open her eyes from physical exhaustion and mental fatigue.
But even that aphotic time gave her some sort of rooting...some sense of familiarity...some kind of a purpose in life. She was used to struggle and to working hard...atleast it kept her occupied in some way. And one day, all that came to an end too...and here she was now, in a strange place with a family who despite their kindness and generousity were not the same people whom she used to know once in Mukteshwar. She felt like an alien...a particularly lonely and isolated alien...who simply did not fit into this big city life.
One part of her desperately kept wanting to go back to Mukteshwar and go on living as she had done for the last 20 years of her life...but how could she do that? She simply had no means to live on her own...and nor the courage to go back to the house of her childhood, without anyone living there but her.
It was probably for the best that she had come to Bangalore...maybe something good would come out it. Besides, the Singh Family had been more than good to her and she was the last person to ever hurt anyone, especially not those who had been so kind to her. Bani decided to put aside her fears and insecurity and make the best out of what life had to offer her. Besides, hadn't that been Jai's second wish...that she would always keep her heart open to love and happiness? She knew that her love was meant for just one person and there was no way that anyone else would ever get even a fraction of that love...but happiness...yes, she could find it for herself.
A few days later
'Bani beta...you don't have to work! You can continue your studies after your graduation, just like Rano and Pushkar. You are also a child of this family like these two, then why do you feel so obliged to work? We are more than happy to take care of you.' remarked Nawin Singh, when Bani had rather hesitantly requested him to help her find employment, anything that would bring some income for her self-sustenance, if nothing else.
Before Bani could answer him back, Lalita too joined the conversation and keeping her hand on Bani's shoulder, spoke kindly, 'Beta...please don't feel that you are a burden on us or anything like that. Besides, you are so young and you have not even been out of Mukteshwar till now...it won't be easy to work here, even if you do get a job.'
Bani kept quiet, wondering what to say next, but Pushkar chipped in, supporting her and said, 'Oh, come on, Ma...Papa. Does one work only for money? Bani knows very well that she is not an obligation on us. But I think its a great idea if she wants to work...it will make her more confident and help her intergrate into this place easily. Remember, how difficult it was for Rano and me initally...we felt like such country bumkins when we first moved to Bangalore and it was only after we joined college that we started feeling comfortable...'
'You still look like one!' joked Rano, dissolving the serious conversation and making everyone laugh, except Bani, who stood miserably, feeling lost and confused on whether she should listen to her guardians or actually insist on getting a job and being financially independent.
'Ma...Papa...jokes apart, I think Pushky is correct here! I feel its a great thing that Bani wants to work...besides, she is so hard-working...she will easily manage her grad studies and she can always work part-time! Papa, why don't you help her get a break somewhere? You have so many contacts!'
Nawin and Lalita finally understood and agreed to Bani getting a job, while Nawin promised Bani to try and find her a suitable employment somewhere.
When both the elders had gone out for their regular walk, Rano turned to look at Bani and giving her a critical inspection from head to toe, remarked bluntly, in a way that only best friends can, 'Buns...you can forget about even getting an entry into an office, leave aside getting a job, if you walk in like this!'
Bani looked confused and muttered, 'Like what?'
Rano passed a look with Pushkar who for a change agreed with her sister and said, 'No offence Bani, but you look like a wilted cabbage that has been out in the Sun too long and unless you wish to work in a Sabzi Mandi, I doubt you will impress anyone with your style!'
Bani chuckled on ihs comment along with Rano and Pushkar, who added, 'you have a remarkable sense of humor and can take a joke in the right spirit but your sense of dressing and style are nowhere close to being remarkable...so I would suggest that we can finally put Rano's fashion designing course to some use and get you a makeover this coming weekend. What do you say, Rano?'
'You are on a roll, Bhai! Ek ke baad ek sixer maar rahe ho! Its a brilliant idea! Bani, we will do shopping this weekend and get you a brand new look! And get that bird's nest you have for hair in shape too!'
'Shoes and bags also!' added Pushkar, already making a note and looking very enthusiastic.
'Make up!'
'Some fashion jewellery?'
'What about some scarves? Though its hardly cold here...but they do look smart!'
'I would say we should invest in some jackets too...I heard there is a sale at Big J's!'
Bani looked aghast as the brother and sister kept adding to their list and blurted out, 'Wait a minute...I...I can't afford all this, Rano...besides, I don't want to spend so much money on clothes and all other things you are talking about...I...I will manage with whatever I have...'
'Come on, Bani! You are not spending money...you are investing it...there is a difference! Besides, you can earn it all back once you get a job! Don't fret so much...let us do the planning and don't worry...my fashion designing course of which my dear brother is always making fun of will come to our rescue...I know a lot of discount shopping outlets...we keep going there from our institute for getting fabric on bulk...we will shop on a budget! Don't you trust me?'
Bani gave a slow, watery smile at her best friend and mumbled softly, 'Ofcourse, I do...and thank you...both of you so much...'
'You can thank us by taking us for a grand treat when you get your first salary!' chipped in Pushkar, giving a friendly pat on Bani's head and announcing, 'Oh, look here...I am already late for my lecture! Rano, I am taking the Car, do you want to get dropped anywhere!'
'Na...my classes don't begin till 12!'
Bani politely asked Pushkar, 'What do you study Pushkar?' and then added with a shy smile, 'I remember you were the brightest boy in our school back in Mukteshwar.'
Pushkar grinned at the compliment and picking up his bag, answered her, 'Law.'
Stunned for a moment, Bani kept starting wordlessly at Pushkar and he asked her humorously, 'What happened? Why are you looking so shocked? Can't the brightest boy in our local Kendriya Vidyalaya, Mukteshwar study for law at National Law School, Bangalore?'
'No...No...I just...Law? Oh! I...are you studying Criminal Law?'
Pushkar looked amused by her strange interest in his subject of choice and answered back, 'No. Civil law. I am bright but not bright enough to do Criminal Law...it is the toughest of all the law branches...besides the competition is intense and its really tough to break-in!'
'Oh...I...okay...bye, see you in the evening then.' Bani mumbled, thrown back to her memories of Jai and spending hours discussing about his work and some of the interesting cases he had worked on. Jai was such an absorbing speaker, that Bani, despite having no background or interest in law, had listened to him intently for hours, hearing him speak about legal details, which otherwise made no sense to her!
Freddy's Salon
Bani sat looking like a frightened chicken in the upmarket salon where Rano had forcibly dragged her to.
'Don't look so shocked, Bani! I know the prices are high, but Ma gets a discount here...it won't work out that expensive!' consoled Rano, perched on the handrest of a chair, flicking through a glossy magazine, while Bani was sitting, white-faced and uneasy, facing huge mirrored walls in the busy, upmarket salon.
'Five hundred rupees for a haircut? Rano! I used to trim my own hair back in Mukteshwar...' whined Bani, horrified at the expenses in Bangalore.
'Yes...one can see the result of that! Now shut-up and let the professionals get to work!' came back Rano, giving a bright smile at the stylist who was allotted for Bani.
'Oh! Lord! When was the last time when this young lady had her hair done?' asked Freddy, giving a withering look at Bani's tangled, unmaintaned hair.
'Never. Freddy, she is my best friend...infact think of her like my sister...and I am placing her in your hands...do your magic with her hair.' announced Rano, while Bani kept cowering in her chair, trying not to stare at Freddy, who was dressed in gothic clothes and looked nothing like a hairdresser to Bani's mind.
'Oh! Makeovers! I love them!' announced Freddy with glee, rubbing his hands and then opening Bani's tight plait, exclaimed with surprise, 'She has lovely hair...pity, it has been left to this state. But no worries...I am here now!'
Bani looked petrified and mumbled, 'I...please don't give me a boycut.'
Both Freddy and Rano burst out laughing and he said, 'Boycut? My darling, that went out of fashion even before you were born! Don't worry...I won't do anything drastic if that is what you are fearing. Just relax and let me do what I am best at!'
Bani smiled at him and closed her eyes, not wanting to see what was going to happen to her.
2 Hours Later
'Oooh...Bani...you look lovely!' gushed Rano, holding onto Bani's cheeks and staring at her face.
Freddy grinned and said, 'I have to say, this indeed comes as a surprise even to me! Its like two different persons...before and after!'
Bani looked at her reflection in the huge mirror and could barely believe it was her.
Her jet black hair came tumbling down to her waist in steps... curling softly at the ends, shining with health and framing her face gloriously.
'And now please, don't let my hardwork go waste and turn them into a bird's nest again! All it takes to maintain one's hair is regular oiling and using a good shampoo and conditioner...I can bet from the look on your face, you haven't even heard of a conditioner before...well, I am giving one to you, free of cost...use it and the next time you come to me, I want to see your hair exactly as they are now!' warned Freddy, making both Bani and Rano laugh, as they thanked him and went out.
Brand Factory
'Rano...Pushkar...I have never worn anything except salwar kameez...I cannot wear these jeans and such short skirts...My god! NO!' exclaimed Bani, looking comically horrified when Pushkar deliberately picked out a particularly skimpy skirt and dangled it in front of Bani for her to try!
Rano laughed and said, 'He is just pulling your leg, Buns! Well, one should only wear clothes which makes one feel comfortable...so if you are not comfortable with western outfits, that's perfectly okay! But we need to update your stock of Salwar Kameez....they look like they have been pulled out of your grandmother's trunk!'
'My grandmother wore Sarees, not Salwar Kameez!!' answered Bani with all sincerity, making Rano and Pushkar laugh with delight at Bani's innocence.
'Okay...enough wasting time on jokes...Bani, Papa has arranged for your interview this week...so you have to get atleast one pair of decent clothes and I can bet you will get the job, so we better buy some more that you can wear to work! Okay...try this mustard and brown chudidar...and Pushky...stop fooling around with the duppata...get that sky blue kurti also...try this...and this green one will look nice on you...try these and show me!'
Bani tamely agreed to her friend's orders and went inside the trying room, coming out a few minutes later, feeling extremely shy in the presence of Pushkar, who was giving her half amused, half appreciative looks.
'Wow...Bani! You actually have a figure!' exclaimed Rano, bursting into laughter when she saw the expression on Bani's face.
'Its a bit tight, don't you think...' Bani mumbled, having never worn anything that wasn't twice her size, mostly because loose clothes felt very comfortable to her.
'Its not tight, sweetheart! Its fits you well...like clothes should! I think we will take this. Try this one now...'
The trio finally finished their shopping even as Bani looked miserable when it was time to pay for the clothes, having never spent so much money in her entire lifetime, as she had ended up spending in just one evening. Both Rano and Pushkar had a gala time pulling her leg, and by the time they reached back home after having dinner outside, even Bani was in a joyous mood, smiling and laughing, showing all her purchases to Lalita.
Before retiring for the night, Bani tried on all the clothes one by one, fluffling her newly styled hair and standing infront of the mirror...instead of looking older than she normally looked, Bani actually appeared a few years younger than she really was. She wondered how Jai would react if he saw her in this new mode and then decided that he had probably even forgotton about her by now...only that could explain why he never called up for her even once...never posted one letter...never sent in a word. Why? Was there truly nothing between them? Didn't they share anything apart from a casual friendship? Did that one year count for nothing more than a number in Jai's memory?
What about the letter then? What about writing all those wonderful words of encouragement and motivation to her? What about telling her that she was beautiful in his eyes? What about his guessing what her third wish had been? What about hinting to her that it had been his wish too? Had he just been humouring her then? Had it just been his attempt to give one last happiness before vanishing from her life?
Bani had not stopped thinking about Jai even once after he had gone away from Mukteshwar...not even bidding her a final good-bye...not even telling her, even if just for formality sake, that they would one day meet again...and she had been unable to get him out of her mind, not that she had even tried.
Afterall, Jai's promise from her had been to keep her heart open to love...but could she help it if he refused to vacate her heart? How could she let anyone else enter the place that was occupied in every corner with his presence?
3 Years Later
The Sun had come out in its full glory, when Bani came running inside the house, puffing and panting, but not before wiping her shoes on the kichen mat and entering the Singh House.
'Morning Chachiji!' she announced in her cheery voice, giving a light hug to Lalita and a grin to Pushkar when he mock saluted her, wishing him good-morning too.
'Pushkar, is Rano up yet? She had promised to come with me for a run today...but I kept knocking on her door, she did not open.'
Both Lalita and Pushkar laughed and he commented back, 'Madam can only make promises, Bani...I highly doubt she can even lift herself before 9 in the morning...especially not on a Sunday!'
Bani lightly chided Pushkar for always pulling his sister's legs and then spoke to Lalita, 'Chachiji...you have a day off today! Rano and I are doing the cooking! What are you doing here? Go and sit in the verandah, while I make tea for everyone!'
'I am not sure if Rano will do any cooking...just like her promises to run with you every morning, I doubt her promise to cook today is going to see the light of the day!' said Pushkar, getting hit by his sister on the back of his head, as Rano came yawning inside the kitchen.
'Morning everyone...' and then giving one look at Bani who was in her sweatpants, with her hair tied high-up in a ponytail and looking flushed and pink from the early morning exercise, she yelped, 'Oh! I completely forgot! Oh! God! Bani...I am soooooooooo sorry! Promise tomorrow...I will run with you...I will keep my alarm for 4 Am and I will...'
'Yes...yes...we all know how much respect you give to your alarm clocks...the alarm will ring at 4, but you will simply shut it down and go back to snoring the house down again!' came Pushkar, elicting laughter from everyone, including Bani!
Lalita smiled warmly at the girl and said, 'Bani...I feel that you still don't think of this house and this family as your own...that is why you insist on making breakfast and helping around with all the chores, while my other two have to be shoved to even lift a glass of water!'
'No, Chachiji!' protested Bani and coming near the older woman, spoke emotionally, 'if not for Chachaji, you, Rano and Pushkar, I don't know where I would be...and ofcourse, I think of this as my own house...and all of you as my own family...that is why I enjoy doing the chores...I used to do everything back in Mukteshwar too...only the city has changed...nothing else.'
'Are you kidding me?' announced Rano, finishing her cup of hot chocolate and giving a woeful look at her own expanding figure, looked at Bani and remarked, 'have you seen yourself in the mirror lately? All your clothes are hanging loose on you, Buns! You must have reduced another five pounds in the last three months since you started on that Yoga Class. Which reminds me, lets go to the Factory outlet in Hosur Road...one of my classmates was telling me that they have a great sale going on!'
'Yeh le lo! One can't get madam out of bed for a healthy jog in the morning, but any mention of shopping and there she goes chugging like steam engine on full blast!' quipped Pushkar, making both Lalita and Bani laugh, even as the brother and sister got playfully bickering with each other.
'Not today, Rano...I have work!' smiled Bani, after convincing Lalita to go out of the kitchen and just enjoy her Sunday, while she washed her hands and started peeling onions for making Poha, which everyone in the Singh Household loved to eat.
'On a Sunday?' remarked Rano with dejection.
'Most of my work happens only on weekends and holidays, you know that! Besides, Jigyasa Mam had asked me days back to allocate a couple of Sundays for work...'
'That woman makes you work like a galley slave, Bani. You should seriously think of reporting this to the Labour Ministry!' came back Pushkar heatedly.
Rano agreed with her brother and said, 'Seriously Bani! Why are you still working for her? You should have listened to Papa and done your post-gradutation, instead of working!'
'I just wanted a graduation degree, which by god's grace, I got one year back! And as far as my work is concerned, I really enjoy working with Jigyasa mam. She is actually a very nice lady...a tough task-master, but I have learnt so much from her. Besides, she did give me time off for my exams!'
'I am going to mark the day you say something negative about someone, Bani! Its like living with Mother Teresa's second version!' commented Pushkar, elicting laughter from both the girls.
'Okay...now is anyone of you going to help me with making the breakfast and lunch or am I only going to get the pleasure of your company in the kitchen?'
'Oh...give me 10 mintues...I will help you out...' remarked Rano, while Pushkar said, 'I have a seminar to attend today evening...so I have to finish my assignment in the morning! But I hope that doesn't mean, I won't be getting the Poha, right?'
Bani laughed and replied back conversationally, 'Don't worry...you go and do your assignment...I will call you once breakfast is ready. So what seminar is there today?'
'We have an eminent guest speaker coming down from Delhi...our college was trying to get hold of him to speak to us for a long time...he finally agreed. Even though his field of expertise has nothing to do with what I am doing, still I don't want to miss this oppourtunity to listen to him! The audi is going to be packed to the hilts...I better go early so that atleast I get a standing space!'
Bani stopped chopping the potatoes and for a moment fell utterly silent...and turning to look at Pushkar who was about to leave the kitchen, she asked him in a faint voice, 'Pushkar...who is the guest speaker? '
He grinned and replied back, 'You would probably have just heard his name on television or read about it in the papers...but he is extremely well-known and highly regarded in our circle! One of the country's top criminal lawyer...Jai Walia.'
And saying that, Pushkar walked out, leaving Bani speechless and rooted to the ground.
Bani
It was a little more than three months that Bani had arrived in Bangalore along with the Singh Family. The first few days were excruciating for her...she had hardly recovered from the shock of Pia running away followed by her father's untimely death and now, she had been uprooted from the comfort and security of her small-town Mukteshwar to the big, bustling metropolis of Bangalore. Everything here terrified her...the constant honking of vehicles, the unimaginable traffic on roads, the bustling crowds everywhere, the sweat and grime and most daunting and alarming to her were the people of Bangalore...that even included her childhood friend Rano and her brother Pushkar.
Every person looked so put-together...so modern...and so confident. Back in Mukteshwar, Bani had never bothered with the way she looked or what she wore, because everyone around her had been equally simple and she had never been judged on the basis of her physical appearance. Besides, after her mother's death, she had taken on the responsibility of looking after her father and sister and had never found the time to take care of herself...except when Jai had come into her life. Even after he had left Mukteshwar, the only change in Bani was that she had started running daily, much to the hilarious reactions from her neighbours, who could not imagine why she would take to waking up at odd hours in such a cold place and run around without any reason.
Even the daily running exercises had come to a stop after Pia had abruptly vanished from their home...Bani could still feel the cold pain stab her heart, when she had discovered the hastily written letter in Pia's bedroom, one morning, after she had come back home from her morning jog. Even before she could react to the shock, her father had collapsed on the ground, leaving Bani completely helpless and lost. The next few weeks leading upto her father's death were the darkest days of her life...everything was unravelling at a speed that she was simply not used to. Her days were spent trying to contact all of Pia's friends and trying to find her whereabouts, while her nights were spent tending to her ailing father...and by the time, it was morning, she could barely open her eyes from physical exhaustion and mental fatigue.
But even that aphotic time gave her some sort of rooting...some sense of familiarity...some kind of a purpose in life. She was used to struggle and to working hard...atleast it kept her occupied in some way. And one day, all that came to an end too...and here she was now, in a strange place with a family who despite their kindness and generousity were not the same people whom she used to know once in Mukteshwar. She felt like an alien...a particularly lonely and isolated alien...who simply did not fit into this big city life.
One part of her desperately kept wanting to go back to Mukteshwar and go on living as she had done for the last 20 years of her life...but how could she do that? She simply had no means to live on her own...and nor the courage to go back to the house of her childhood, without anyone living there but her.
It was probably for the best that she had come to Bangalore...maybe something good would come out it. Besides, the Singh Family had been more than good to her and she was the last person to ever hurt anyone, especially not those who had been so kind to her. Bani decided to put aside her fears and insecurity and make the best out of what life had to offer her. Besides, hadn't that been Jai's second wish...that she would always keep her heart open to love and happiness? She knew that her love was meant for just one person and there was no way that anyone else would ever get even a fraction of that love...but happiness...yes, she could find it for herself.
A few days later
'Bani beta...you don't have to work! You can continue your studies after your graduation, just like Rano and Pushkar. You are also a child of this family like these two, then why do you feel so obliged to work? We are more than happy to take care of you.' remarked Nawin Singh, when Bani had rather hesitantly requested him to help her find employment, anything that would bring some income for her self-sustenance, if nothing else.
Before Bani could answer him back, Lalita too joined the conversation and keeping her hand on Bani's shoulder, spoke kindly, 'Beta...please don't feel that you are a burden on us or anything like that. Besides, you are so young and you have not even been out of Mukteshwar till now...it won't be easy to work here, even if you do get a job.'
Bani kept quiet, wondering what to say next, but Pushkar chipped in, supporting her and said, 'Oh, come on, Ma...Papa. Does one work only for money? Bani knows very well that she is not an obligation on us. But I think its a great idea if she wants to work...it will make her more confident and help her intergrate into this place easily. Remember, how difficult it was for Rano and me initally...we felt like such country bumkins when we first moved to Bangalore and it was only after we joined college that we started feeling comfortable...'
'You still look like one!' joked Rano, dissolving the serious conversation and making everyone laugh, except Bani, who stood miserably, feeling lost and confused on whether she should listen to her guardians or actually insist on getting a job and being financially independent.
'Ma...Papa...jokes apart, I think Pushky is correct here! I feel its a great thing that Bani wants to work...besides, she is so hard-working...she will easily manage her grad studies and she can always work part-time! Papa, why don't you help her get a break somewhere? You have so many contacts!'
Nawin and Lalita finally understood and agreed to Bani getting a job, while Nawin promised Bani to try and find her a suitable employment somewhere.
When both the elders had gone out for their regular walk, Rano turned to look at Bani and giving her a critical inspection from head to toe, remarked bluntly, in a way that only best friends can, 'Buns...you can forget about even getting an entry into an office, leave aside getting a job, if you walk in like this!'
Bani looked confused and muttered, 'Like what?'
Rano passed a look with Pushkar who for a change agreed with her sister and said, 'No offence Bani, but you look like a wilted cabbage that has been out in the Sun too long and unless you wish to work in a Sabzi Mandi, I doubt you will impress anyone with your style!'
Bani chuckled on ihs comment along with Rano and Pushkar, who added, 'you have a remarkable sense of humor and can take a joke in the right spirit but your sense of dressing and style are nowhere close to being remarkable...so I would suggest that we can finally put Rano's fashion designing course to some use and get you a makeover this coming weekend. What do you say, Rano?'
'You are on a roll, Bhai! Ek ke baad ek sixer maar rahe ho! Its a brilliant idea! Bani, we will do shopping this weekend and get you a brand new look! And get that bird's nest you have for hair in shape too!'
'Shoes and bags also!' added Pushkar, already making a note and looking very enthusiastic.
'Make up!'
'Some fashion jewellery?'
'What about some scarves? Though its hardly cold here...but they do look smart!'
'I would say we should invest in some jackets too...I heard there is a sale at Big J's!'
Bani looked aghast as the brother and sister kept adding to their list and blurted out, 'Wait a minute...I...I can't afford all this, Rano...besides, I don't want to spend so much money on clothes and all other things you are talking about...I...I will manage with whatever I have...'
'Come on, Bani! You are not spending money...you are investing it...there is a difference! Besides, you can earn it all back once you get a job! Don't fret so much...let us do the planning and don't worry...my fashion designing course of which my dear brother is always making fun of will come to our rescue...I know a lot of discount shopping outlets...we keep going there from our institute for getting fabric on bulk...we will shop on a budget! Don't you trust me?'
Bani gave a slow, watery smile at her best friend and mumbled softly, 'Ofcourse, I do...and thank you...both of you so much...'
'You can thank us by taking us for a grand treat when you get your first salary!' chipped in Pushkar, giving a friendly pat on Bani's head and announcing, 'Oh, look here...I am already late for my lecture! Rano, I am taking the Car, do you want to get dropped anywhere!'
'Na...my classes don't begin till 12!'
Bani politely asked Pushkar, 'What do you study Pushkar?' and then added with a shy smile, 'I remember you were the brightest boy in our school back in Mukteshwar.'
Pushkar grinned at the compliment and picking up his bag, answered her, 'Law.'
Stunned for a moment, Bani kept starting wordlessly at Pushkar and he asked her humorously, 'What happened? Why are you looking so shocked? Can't the brightest boy in our local Kendriya Vidyalaya, Mukteshwar study for law at National Law School, Bangalore?'
'No...No...I just...Law? Oh! I...are you studying Criminal Law?'
Pushkar looked amused by her strange interest in his subject of choice and answered back, 'No. Civil law. I am bright but not bright enough to do Criminal Law...it is the toughest of all the law branches...besides the competition is intense and its really tough to break-in!'
'Oh...I...okay...bye, see you in the evening then.' Bani mumbled, thrown back to her memories of Jai and spending hours discussing about his work and some of the interesting cases he had worked on. Jai was such an absorbing speaker, that Bani, despite having no background or interest in law, had listened to him intently for hours, hearing him speak about legal details, which otherwise made no sense to her!
Freddy's Salon
Bani sat looking like a frightened chicken in the upmarket salon where Rano had forcibly dragged her to.
'Don't look so shocked, Bani! I know the prices are high, but Ma gets a discount here...it won't work out that expensive!' consoled Rano, perched on the handrest of a chair, flicking through a glossy magazine, while Bani was sitting, white-faced and uneasy, facing huge mirrored walls in the busy, upmarket salon.
'Five hundred rupees for a haircut? Rano! I used to trim my own hair back in Mukteshwar...' whined Bani, horrified at the expenses in Bangalore.
'Yes...one can see the result of that! Now shut-up and let the professionals get to work!' came back Rano, giving a bright smile at the stylist who was allotted for Bani.
'Oh! Lord! When was the last time when this young lady had her hair done?' asked Freddy, giving a withering look at Bani's tangled, unmaintaned hair.
'Never. Freddy, she is my best friend...infact think of her like my sister...and I am placing her in your hands...do your magic with her hair.' announced Rano, while Bani kept cowering in her chair, trying not to stare at Freddy, who was dressed in gothic clothes and looked nothing like a hairdresser to Bani's mind.
'Oh! Makeovers! I love them!' announced Freddy with glee, rubbing his hands and then opening Bani's tight plait, exclaimed with surprise, 'She has lovely hair...pity, it has been left to this state. But no worries...I am here now!'
Bani looked petrified and mumbled, 'I...please don't give me a boycut.'
Both Freddy and Rano burst out laughing and he said, 'Boycut? My darling, that went out of fashion even before you were born! Don't worry...I won't do anything drastic if that is what you are fearing. Just relax and let me do what I am best at!'
Bani smiled at him and closed her eyes, not wanting to see what was going to happen to her.
2 Hours Later
'Oooh...Bani...you look lovely!' gushed Rano, holding onto Bani's cheeks and staring at her face.
Freddy grinned and said, 'I have to say, this indeed comes as a surprise even to me! Its like two different persons...before and after!'
Bani looked at her reflection in the huge mirror and could barely believe it was her.
Her jet black hair came tumbling down to her waist in steps... curling softly at the ends, shining with health and framing her face gloriously.
'And now please, don't let my hardwork go waste and turn them into a bird's nest again! All it takes to maintain one's hair is regular oiling and using a good shampoo and conditioner...I can bet from the look on your face, you haven't even heard of a conditioner before...well, I am giving one to you, free of cost...use it and the next time you come to me, I want to see your hair exactly as they are now!' warned Freddy, making both Bani and Rano laugh, as they thanked him and went out.
Brand Factory
'Rano...Pushkar...I have never worn anything except salwar kameez...I cannot wear these jeans and such short skirts...My god! NO!' exclaimed Bani, looking comically horrified when Pushkar deliberately picked out a particularly skimpy skirt and dangled it in front of Bani for her to try!
Rano laughed and said, 'He is just pulling your leg, Buns! Well, one should only wear clothes which makes one feel comfortable...so if you are not comfortable with western outfits, that's perfectly okay! But we need to update your stock of Salwar Kameez....they look like they have been pulled out of your grandmother's trunk!'
'My grandmother wore Sarees, not Salwar Kameez!!' answered Bani with all sincerity, making Rano and Pushkar laugh with delight at Bani's innocence.
'Okay...enough wasting time on jokes...Bani, Papa has arranged for your interview this week...so you have to get atleast one pair of decent clothes and I can bet you will get the job, so we better buy some more that you can wear to work! Okay...try this mustard and brown chudidar...and Pushky...stop fooling around with the duppata...get that sky blue kurti also...try this...and this green one will look nice on you...try these and show me!'
Bani tamely agreed to her friend's orders and went inside the trying room, coming out a few minutes later, feeling extremely shy in the presence of Pushkar, who was giving her half amused, half appreciative looks.
'Wow...Bani! You actually have a figure!' exclaimed Rano, bursting into laughter when she saw the expression on Bani's face.
'Its a bit tight, don't you think...' Bani mumbled, having never worn anything that wasn't twice her size, mostly because loose clothes felt very comfortable to her.
'Its not tight, sweetheart! Its fits you well...like clothes should! I think we will take this. Try this one now...'
The trio finally finished their shopping even as Bani looked miserable when it was time to pay for the clothes, having never spent so much money in her entire lifetime, as she had ended up spending in just one evening. Both Rano and Pushkar had a gala time pulling her leg, and by the time they reached back home after having dinner outside, even Bani was in a joyous mood, smiling and laughing, showing all her purchases to Lalita.
Before retiring for the night, Bani tried on all the clothes one by one, fluffling her newly styled hair and standing infront of the mirror...instead of looking older than she normally looked, Bani actually appeared a few years younger than she really was. She wondered how Jai would react if he saw her in this new mode and then decided that he had probably even forgotton about her by now...only that could explain why he never called up for her even once...never posted one letter...never sent in a word. Why? Was there truly nothing between them? Didn't they share anything apart from a casual friendship? Did that one year count for nothing more than a number in Jai's memory?
What about the letter then? What about writing all those wonderful words of encouragement and motivation to her? What about telling her that she was beautiful in his eyes? What about his guessing what her third wish had been? What about hinting to her that it had been his wish too? Had he just been humouring her then? Had it just been his attempt to give one last happiness before vanishing from her life?
Bani had not stopped thinking about Jai even once after he had gone away from Mukteshwar...not even bidding her a final good-bye...not even telling her, even if just for formality sake, that they would one day meet again...and she had been unable to get him out of her mind, not that she had even tried.
Afterall, Jai's promise from her had been to keep her heart open to love...but could she help it if he refused to vacate her heart? How could she let anyone else enter the place that was occupied in every corner with his presence?
3 Years Later
The Sun had come out in its full glory, when Bani came running inside the house, puffing and panting, but not before wiping her shoes on the kichen mat and entering the Singh House.
'Morning Chachiji!' she announced in her cheery voice, giving a light hug to Lalita and a grin to Pushkar when he mock saluted her, wishing him good-morning too.
'Pushkar, is Rano up yet? She had promised to come with me for a run today...but I kept knocking on her door, she did not open.'
Both Lalita and Pushkar laughed and he commented back, 'Madam can only make promises, Bani...I highly doubt she can even lift herself before 9 in the morning...especially not on a Sunday!'
Bani lightly chided Pushkar for always pulling his sister's legs and then spoke to Lalita, 'Chachiji...you have a day off today! Rano and I are doing the cooking! What are you doing here? Go and sit in the verandah, while I make tea for everyone!'
'I am not sure if Rano will do any cooking...just like her promises to run with you every morning, I doubt her promise to cook today is going to see the light of the day!' said Pushkar, getting hit by his sister on the back of his head, as Rano came yawning inside the kitchen.
'Morning everyone...' and then giving one look at Bani who was in her sweatpants, with her hair tied high-up in a ponytail and looking flushed and pink from the early morning exercise, she yelped, 'Oh! I completely forgot! Oh! God! Bani...I am soooooooooo sorry! Promise tomorrow...I will run with you...I will keep my alarm for 4 Am and I will...'
'Yes...yes...we all know how much respect you give to your alarm clocks...the alarm will ring at 4, but you will simply shut it down and go back to snoring the house down again!' came Pushkar, elicting laughter from everyone, including Bani!
Lalita smiled warmly at the girl and said, 'Bani...I feel that you still don't think of this house and this family as your own...that is why you insist on making breakfast and helping around with all the chores, while my other two have to be shoved to even lift a glass of water!'
'No, Chachiji!' protested Bani and coming near the older woman, spoke emotionally, 'if not for Chachaji, you, Rano and Pushkar, I don't know where I would be...and ofcourse, I think of this as my own house...and all of you as my own family...that is why I enjoy doing the chores...I used to do everything back in Mukteshwar too...only the city has changed...nothing else.'
'Are you kidding me?' announced Rano, finishing her cup of hot chocolate and giving a woeful look at her own expanding figure, looked at Bani and remarked, 'have you seen yourself in the mirror lately? All your clothes are hanging loose on you, Buns! You must have reduced another five pounds in the last three months since you started on that Yoga Class. Which reminds me, lets go to the Factory outlet in Hosur Road...one of my classmates was telling me that they have a great sale going on!'
'Yeh le lo! One can't get madam out of bed for a healthy jog in the morning, but any mention of shopping and there she goes chugging like steam engine on full blast!' quipped Pushkar, making both Lalita and Bani laugh, even as the brother and sister got playfully bickering with each other.
'Not today, Rano...I have work!' smiled Bani, after convincing Lalita to go out of the kitchen and just enjoy her Sunday, while she washed her hands and started peeling onions for making Poha, which everyone in the Singh Household loved to eat.
'On a Sunday?' remarked Rano with dejection.
'Most of my work happens only on weekends and holidays, you know that! Besides, Jigyasa Mam had asked me days back to allocate a couple of Sundays for work...'
'That woman makes you work like a galley slave, Bani. You should seriously think of reporting this to the Labour Ministry!' came back Pushkar heatedly.
Rano agreed with her brother and said, 'Seriously Bani! Why are you still working for her? You should have listened to Papa and done your post-gradutation, instead of working!'
'I just wanted a graduation degree, which by god's grace, I got one year back! And as far as my work is concerned, I really enjoy working with Jigyasa mam. She is actually a very nice lady...a tough task-master, but I have learnt so much from her. Besides, she did give me time off for my exams!'
'I am going to mark the day you say something negative about someone, Bani! Its like living with Mother Teresa's second version!' commented Pushkar, elicting laughter from both the girls.
'Okay...now is anyone of you going to help me with making the breakfast and lunch or am I only going to get the pleasure of your company in the kitchen?'
'Oh...give me 10 mintues...I will help you out...' remarked Rano, while Pushkar said, 'I have a seminar to attend today evening...so I have to finish my assignment in the morning! But I hope that doesn't mean, I won't be getting the Poha, right?'
Bani laughed and replied back conversationally, 'Don't worry...you go and do your assignment...I will call you once breakfast is ready. So what seminar is there today?'
'We have an eminent guest speaker coming down from Delhi...our college was trying to get hold of him to speak to us for a long time...he finally agreed. Even though his field of expertise has nothing to do with what I am doing, still I don't want to miss this oppourtunity to listen to him! The audi is going to be packed to the hilts...I better go early so that atleast I get a standing space!'
Bani stopped chopping the potatoes and for a moment fell utterly silent...and turning to look at Pushkar who was about to leave the kitchen, she asked him in a faint voice, 'Pushkar...who is the guest speaker? '
He grinned and replied back, 'You would probably have just heard his name on television or read about it in the papers...but he is extremely well-known and highly regarded in our circle! One of the country's top criminal lawyer...Jai Walia.'
And saying that, Pushkar walked out, leaving Bani speechless and rooted to the ground.
“Much unhappiness
has come into the world because of bewilderment and things left unsaid.”
- Fyodor Dostoevsky
Part 7 (b)
Event and Wedding Planners Limited
The chic and refined looking middle-aged lady gave a piercing glance at Bani through her Pince-nez glasses and barked in her raspy voice, 'You are late!'
'I...I am sorry Mam...I left my home late...I got lost in some thoughts.' answered Bani, sounding slightly nervous but being blatantly honest about her reason for being late.
'What? Lost in thoughts? Whatever...now set cracking. Humeira has the samples of brocade and laces that we need for the Jindal Wedding in April...and just check with Fedex office, when they are going to deliver us the consignment of orchids from Bangkok for Mr. Miranda's 60th birthday party. Also, did you call up Ms. Chopra's office and ask for an appointment...the wedding is just weeks away and we are not even getting a face to face with that woman.' snapped Jigyasa, mostly to herself, lighting her sixth cigarette of the day already, much to Bani's anguish, who could barely stand the smoke but bravely confronted it everyday.
'I did that, Mam. We have an appointment with Ms. Chopra on Thursday afternoon at Ice&Spice and I called up Fedex too...they have assured us that the Orchards will be delivered on time. I will keep a tab on them.'
'Its Orchids, Bani...not Orchards, for goodness sake! O-R-C-H-I-D-S!'
'Yes, Mam. O-R-C-H-I-D-S.' repeated Bani with all her sincerity, making Jigyasa Bali supress a smile.
Jigyasa went back to typing some emails on her laptops, when she noticed that Bani was still standing in the room, with a desperate look on her face.
'Now what?'
Hesitating a bit, Bani spoke in a low but clear voice, 'Mam, I was wondering, if you could let me go a little early today...I...I have to attend a seminar.'
Giving a withering look at Bani and making her nervous than she already was, Jigyasa snapped back, 'If you have to go for an interview, then atleast come up with a better excuse! Seminar indeed!'
Looking shocked, Bani protested vehmently, 'No Mam. I am not going for any interview...I really want to attend a seminar...at National Law School.'
Bewildered, Jigyasa opened her mouth to say something and then shrugging her head, realized that however strange it might sound, Bani was indeed speaking the truth. In the last 2 years that Bani had been working with her, Jigyasa had come to know the girl inside out and knew that she was painfully transparent and was probably the most unlikliest person to utter a lie or give excuses. It was simply not in her nature.
'I cannot imagine why you want to attend a seminar on lawl! I thought you had told me that you were not planning to pursue your studies any further and that you just wanted to work here? Whatever! In anycase, you are late for work and I am NOT letting you go early. I have already given you extra days off for your college exams and you had promised to compensate me for that. Now go out and start working.'
Highly disappointed but not used to question authority, Bani simply nodded her head and started walking out of the office, when Jigyasa gave a loud sigh and called back, 'If you get those sample invitations ready by 6 Pm today and get me a table for 8 at La Rochelle for tonight, I may let you go for that seminar or whatever you want to attend!'
Looking elated, Bani exclaimed with joy, 'Done, Mam! And...and thank you so much!' Literally skipping with joy, she went out of the office, making Jigaysa smile warmly.
How much she had changed over the last two years, since Jigyasa had first set eyes on the gawky, ill at ease girl in her brand new clothes (always a bad sign at any interview) barely managing to speak fluently in english and utterly under-confident small-town girl who had just arrived in Bangalore from some god-forsaken hilly nook called Mukteshwar or whatever it was.
Jigyasa had been very put-off when one of her clients, Nawin Singh had requested her to have a 'look' at some girl and whether she could fit her somewhere in her small but highly successful event management company. Nawin Singh's firm was one of their biggest clients and Jigyasa had been unable to deny the request.
Jigyasa had been completely unimpressed by Bani's non-existent resume and when the nervous and antsy girl had walked in for an interview, she had decided to give Bani such a hard time, that Nawin Singh would never dare to send another recommended candidate to her ever again.
But it took just ten minutes for Jigyasa to be utterly charmed by Bani's innocence and sincerity, which shined through her whole personality. And given that, her personal assistant had just put in her papers, unable to cope up with her bitter tounge and cold temper, she had decided to hire the girl on a lark and see what she could make out of her. At the worst, Jigyasa would have had to turn her out of the office for incompetence and at the best, she would have discovered an unpolished gem.
As it turned out, Jigyasa had indeed discovered a gem, though she made it a point to never let Bani know of the same, instead harassing and bullying her relentlessly to do better and better, never satisfied with her work, even though she knew that out of the 12 assistants that she had hired till date, Bani was the only one who actually came up to the standards of Jigyasa Bali.
Bani had set about working with single-minded focus, compensating her lack of education and exposure by sheer hard-work and dedication, learning everything that was to learn, putting with her boss's temperament with good-humour and patience. Besides, what Jigyasa loved the most about Bani was her optimism and that bright smile that she brought into the workplace everyday and it didn't take long before Jigyasa decided to never let go of her invaluable employee.
In-between working for Jigyasa's event management company, Bani also managed to complete her graduation, despite having an acute time-crunch and though she felt exhausted by the time she was back home from work, she made it a point to never give up on her studies...it was Jai's first wish for himself...and there was no way in hell that she was not going to fulfill it.
Bani kept looking at the writst watch feverishly, it was already half past six and Pushkar had told her that the seminar was set to begin around the same time and having known Jai for one whole year, Bani knew that he would be bang on time. She had a hard time convincing Pushkar why she wanted to attend the seminar and though he had been highly unconvinced by her strange explanaitons, he had made arrangements for her to enter the University Premises, telling her that they could attend the seminar together and join Rano for a Pizza dinner somewhere before going home.
Bani had managed to get a last minute dinner reservation in Jigyasa's name at La Rochelle with great difficulty and was just on the verge of finishing the sample invitations that Jigyasa had asked her to do, when her cell-phone rang.
It was Pushkar and from the noise in the background, it was apparent that he was already inside the auditorium. 'Bani? Where the hell are you? I kept waiting for you at the front gate!'
'I...I am stuck with some work, Pushkar! But I am almost done...I will take a cab and come...I should reach in the next 30 mintues or so.'
Pushkar sounded stunned when he said, 'you are taking a cab to the university, so that you can attend a seminar...that has nothing to do with your line of work? And Rano and I can't convince you to take a cab from the home or office even when it is raining cats and dogs? Why on earth are you so desperate to attend this seminar, Bani?'
Bani was left without an explanation and the only thing she could mutter was, 'I...I will explain everything to you later on. Bye...I have to wrap off a few things...see you at the auditorium.'
Rushing inside Jigyasa's room and then blurting out a hasty 'Sorry Mam' she spluttered out, 'I checked those sample invitations, Mam...I have made the changes and given them to Raghubir for further work...the dinner reservation has been made for 9 Pm at La Rochelle...and I have asked Pandiyan Anna to get your clothes from the dry-cleaners and drop them off at your place. Anything else Mam?'
Jigyasa was on the phone and gave an annoyed look at Bani and speaking on the phone she said, 'Just a moment sweetheart!' and spoke curtly to her, 'Do I have to teach you to knock on the door before barging in like a bull in a china shop?'
Bani sheepishly muttered, 'I am sorry, Mam...I was just getting late for the...'
'Yes...Yes...you can leave! And I want to see you dot on time tomorrow morning...no slacking. Okay?'
'Yes Mam. Thank you.' beamed Bani and just as Jigyasa went speaking on her phone again, she added, 'Have a lovely evening at La Rochelle, Mam.'
Jigyasa smiled as Bani went rushing out and spoke on the phone again, 'I am sorry, sweet-heart...that was my ditzy assistant!'
Jai laughed at the other end of the phone and replied back humourously, 'You and your assistants, Jiggy! Which number is this one?'
'Number 13...but she is a lucky one...has lasted the longest...its going to be two years!'
'Wow...so either that girl must be a super-woman or maybe you are getting older!'
Jigyasa laughed with delight and remarked, 'Old, my foot! Wait till we meet for dinner tonight...we will see who is old and who is not! Btw, are the others coming too?'
'Hmm...Ranveer, Senha, Nachiket, Purva, her parents, one of their relatives...a cousin or something!'
'Oh! Lovely, its a long time since I caught up with Neerja!'
'Purva's mom? You know her?'
'There is no one in Bangalore whom I don't know, sweetheart!' laughed Jigyasa and added, 'Who else?'
'Don't get mad...but your ex-husband is also with us!'
'What? Why did you have to bring Adi along? JAI!'
'Well, as it happens Jiggy...Adi might be your ex-husband, he still happens to be my colleague and the senior partner of our firm. He had some work to do in Bangalore and I had this seminar to conduct at NLS'
Jigyasa gave a small chuckle and said, 'Oh, so she was telling the truth!'
'Who was telling what truth?'
Jigyasa simply gave a short laugh and said, 'My assistant told me that she had a seminar to attend at Law School and I was wondering if she was fibbing about it...apparently not...though I cannot in the world imagine why she would want to attend a seminar on criminal law!'
Jai also laughed along and teased his old friend, 'Maybe she is planning to murder you and is readying herself for a defence in court by attending my seminar! Beware of her, Jiggy!'
'Oh, you don't know her...she can't deliberately kill an ant, leave aside killing a witch like me!'
Jai laughed uproariously on her comment and said, 'Hey look...just two more minutes till my seminar begins...lets catch up in detail later on tonight! Okay?'
'Okay, sweetie! See you then!'
National Law School
It was a quarter past eight, when Bani, soaked to the bones and looking like a complete wreck, jumped out of the cab after paying him the fare and rushed towards the University Gates, hoping against hope that somehow the seminar had got delayed and Jai was still there. But when she saw Pushkar waiting for her on the steps of the campus, covering himself with an umbrella against the torrential downpour, she knew that it was too late.
Walking up to her, Pushkar stopped the cab from leaving and said to Bani, 'It got over half an hour ago...what on earth took you so long?'
Feeling utterly dejected at having missed Jai by such a small margin, she answered in a lackluster voice, 'There was a traffic jam on the highway because of the rain...and it took me a long time to find a cab.'
'Now come...lets get in. You will catch a cold by the time we reach home and you still haven't told me, why this desperation to attend this seminar?'
Bani sat inside the cab quietly and looked out of the window at the rain lashed campus and mumbled in an inaudible voice, 'I was trying to alter my destiny...but I guess I forgot that life is not a game of scrabble after all.'
Pushkar blinked his eyes and was about to ask Bani what on earth she meant by what she had said, when he realized that she was speaking to herself. Wondering what he was missing, he decided not to push her any further on the topic and speak to her later sometime.
When they were midway, Bani turned to look at Pushkar and asked him in an absent voice, 'how was the seminar?'
'Oh, it was excellent! Mr. Walia is as talented an orator as he is a lawyer..its impossible to get distracted for even a second when he is speaking...and ofcourse, he has a mastery over his subject. You know, he did not refer to any notes or slides while giving the speech...completely impromptu...it was a well-researched and insightful lecture! And I guess its his genius that he can make a dry and boring subject like law to be so interesting!'
Bani kept quiet for sometime and then asked hesitantly, 'Did...did he look alright?'
'Huh? Who? Mr. Walia?' asked Pushkar, looking thoroughly bewildered by the inexplicable interest that Bani was taking in Jai Walia, who as per Pushkar's knowledge couldn't have anything to do with Bani.
'Yes...he was looking fine. There was some news about his battling spinal cancer a few years back, wasn't it? No signs of that now...he looked absolutely fine to me! All the girls and female staff in our college had occupied the front row seats to gawk at him...I suppose that proves he looked pretty fine!'
Bani smiled at Pushkar's comment and a cloud seemed to have lifted off her head, as the cab turned towards the Singh Residence.
Getting down from the cab, Bani turned to look at Pushkar and spoke with gratitude, 'Thank you for not questioning me today, Pushkar...you are a true friend. One day, I will tell you...and Rano everything.' And making that cryptic statement, she walked inside along with Pushkar, who looked utterly bewildered by now.
La Rochelle
Jai sat at the head of the table flanked by Nachiket on his left and Aditya on his right. Nachiket's fiancee Purva sat besides him, followed by her father and mother. Ranveer and Sneha sat on the opposite end and right next to Aditya, much to her annoyance was seated Jigyasa. A s**y and attractive looking lady sat next to Purva, her eyes set rather appreciatively on Jai ever since they were introduced at the beginning of the dinner party. She was Meera Raheja, Purva's cousin.
There was much clinking of wine glasses and revelery, when Jai got up to say a few words, looking a bit tired and jet-lagged but otherwise smiling.
'I couldn't be happier today to announce my beloved brother Nachiket's engagement to the lovely Purva Raheja...truly a girl in a million. And I hope all of you join me in raising a toast to the wonderful couple who are about to take a step towards matrimony very soon. I wish them a lifetime of happiness and togetherness, today and forever.'
Everyone clinked their glasses followed by a hearty applause, as Nitish Raheja smiled at Jai and said, 'I am so glad that our Purva has found a boy like Nachiket...and gladder that she is marrying into your family, Jai!'
Jai smiled and returned the compliment, as the ladies insisted on Purva showing them her engagement ring and complimented it on its flawless beauty.
'Its really gorgeous...thank you so much, Dada...Nachiket told me that you gave it to him.' spoke Purva shyly.
Jai smiled and said, 'it was our mother's heirloom...whoever was the first amongst us brothers to get a wife was to have it!'
'Its not really fair, Dada...actually your wife is the rightful owner to it!' spoke Purva.
'Well, I am not getting married in this lifetime...'
'Why not?' protested Nachiket, only to get a look from his elder brother who spoke with exaggerated patience, 'I think we have assembled here to discuss about Purva and your wedding and not mine! Anyway, if it pleases you, Ma had left two such rings...so another one is still lying!'
'I think we better start looking for a bride for Jai then!' joked Jigyasa, making everyone laugh.
'Jai, amongst all the women you dated...and believe me, its a huge number, how come you couldn't find one whom you wished to marry?' joked Aditya, guffawing loudly.
There was a sudden awkwardness in the air, as Nachiket looked mortified with guilt, only to be interrupted by Ranveer, who gave a look at his friend and said, 'Maybe he has found her...but hasn't yet found the courage to tell her that he wishes to marry her!'
Jai flushed and gave a half pleading, half threatening look at Ranveer, who was shaking quietly with laughter on seeing Jai's reaction to his words.
'Anyway...Anyway...now can we discuss about the upcoming wedding? I doubt all of us will be able to meet again like this in the near future because of our work committments...so why don't we use this time to discuss the wedding plans?' said Jai, mostly to take away the topic from him and concentrate on Nachiket and Purva.
The conversation turned towards the upcoming wedding and Jigyasa announced in her sleek voice, 'Well, one thing is decided for sure. The wedding planner. That is your truly!'
Adi gave a saucy comment in return leading to a hilarious war of words between them, while Meera tried rather unsuccessfully to gain Jai's attention, who in turn appeared distracted and absent-minded.
'Jai, you decide where the wedding should be held? You are the representative from the groom's side afterall?' spoke the graceful looking Neerja Raheja.
Jai smiled and said, 'If it is not an issue with anyone...I would love Chote and Purva to get married at our Chattarpur Farmhouse in Delhi...it is the first wedding in the family and that house was passed on to both of us from our parents...I thought it would be a nice ode to their memory.' and then quickly added, 'but anywhere else is also fine. I think Purva should get to decide...she is the bride afterall!'
Purva smiled warmly at her would be brother-in-law and holding Nachiket's hands said, 'If its my decision, then we would love to get married in Delhi...at your Farmhouse, Dada.'
'Sure? Nikhilji? Neerjaji?'
The senior Raheja's smiled and nodded their assent. Turning to look at Jigysasa, Jai asked, 'Jiggy, would it be a problem to arrange the wedding in Delhi...cause you are based out of here?'
'Are you kidding me? Nothing is a problem for me! Besides, I have a whole team working under me! I will send them over to your place in Delhi...they will manage everything. Which reminds me...Purva, why don't you and Neerja drop over to my office this week? And we can discuss the finer details! Plus, I will introduce you to the team who will be working with you on the wedding! Nachiket, you also come along!'
Purva excitedly yelped, 'I would love that! Is Thursday afternoon fine? Mummy, you are okay with it?'
Neerja smiled and said, 'I am not really upto date with all this wedding planning ect...why don't you and Meera go together? Let me handle the jewellery, clothes, relatives ect!'
Purva did not look too pleased with the idea but quietly accepted it, fixing an appointment with Jigyasa for the coming week.
'Jai...when would you like to fix an appointment with my team regarding the preparations?' asked Jigyasa.
Giving a dry look, Jai remarked, 'Please keep me out of all this, Jiggy!'
'Don't be silly! The wedding is going to happen at your place...you need to be in the loophole!'
'Not really! For one, I am not really into all this wedding hoopla...much as I adore my brother and his would-be-wife...and secondly, I don't think I have the time. So why don't you handle this on your own! You have carte blanche from my side!'
'Sure? Okay then...I will assign my team to work for both the groom and the bride's side! Great!'
The rest of the dinner went well, except that Jai looked increasingly distracted and lost and kept glancing at his phone...deliberating on whether to call up Bani or not. He had her number...at the last moment, he had taken the landline number of the family with whom Bani was staying from Pia. But he could not take the plunge and make a call to her...knowing very well, that it would lead to a chain reaction...he would not be able to stay away from her and from what he could make out after his conversation with Pia, Bani was still very much hung up on him.
Jai could hardly believe it...4 years was a long time...a very long time for a young girl to wait and yearn for someone who had actually told her that they would never meet again. What was she waiting for then? Or maybe he was just over-imagining things...Bani must have moved on, so what if she wasn't married by now? She must have someone in her life...a boyfriend...someone from work or from the neighbourhood. What did it matter if he placed a call and just asked her how she was doing? She would feel so good about it.
And then almost instantly, shrugged the thought! Whom was he fooling? He wanted to speak with Bani not for her, but for himself...he hand't been able to get her out of his mind for the last 4 years and ever since his meeting with Pia, Jai had been increasingly torn between letting things remain as they were by not regaining any contact with Bani or letting go of his personal hassled and just place a call and speak with her.
Jai supposed that it was his training as a lawyer which stopped him from taking any impulsive decision, as he once again, decided to leave everything on fate. If they had to meet, they would somehow...and if it was written in their fate to go their seperate ways, then nothing on heaven or earth could change that.
- Fyodor Dostoevsky
Part 7 (b)
Event and Wedding Planners Limited
The chic and refined looking middle-aged lady gave a piercing glance at Bani through her Pince-nez glasses and barked in her raspy voice, 'You are late!'
'I...I am sorry Mam...I left my home late...I got lost in some thoughts.' answered Bani, sounding slightly nervous but being blatantly honest about her reason for being late.
'What? Lost in thoughts? Whatever...now set cracking. Humeira has the samples of brocade and laces that we need for the Jindal Wedding in April...and just check with Fedex office, when they are going to deliver us the consignment of orchids from Bangkok for Mr. Miranda's 60th birthday party. Also, did you call up Ms. Chopra's office and ask for an appointment...the wedding is just weeks away and we are not even getting a face to face with that woman.' snapped Jigyasa, mostly to herself, lighting her sixth cigarette of the day already, much to Bani's anguish, who could barely stand the smoke but bravely confronted it everyday.
'I did that, Mam. We have an appointment with Ms. Chopra on Thursday afternoon at Ice&Spice and I called up Fedex too...they have assured us that the Orchards will be delivered on time. I will keep a tab on them.'
'Its Orchids, Bani...not Orchards, for goodness sake! O-R-C-H-I-D-S!'
'Yes, Mam. O-R-C-H-I-D-S.' repeated Bani with all her sincerity, making Jigyasa Bali supress a smile.
Jigyasa went back to typing some emails on her laptops, when she noticed that Bani was still standing in the room, with a desperate look on her face.
'Now what?'
Hesitating a bit, Bani spoke in a low but clear voice, 'Mam, I was wondering, if you could let me go a little early today...I...I have to attend a seminar.'
Giving a withering look at Bani and making her nervous than she already was, Jigyasa snapped back, 'If you have to go for an interview, then atleast come up with a better excuse! Seminar indeed!'
Looking shocked, Bani protested vehmently, 'No Mam. I am not going for any interview...I really want to attend a seminar...at National Law School.'
Bewildered, Jigyasa opened her mouth to say something and then shrugging her head, realized that however strange it might sound, Bani was indeed speaking the truth. In the last 2 years that Bani had been working with her, Jigyasa had come to know the girl inside out and knew that she was painfully transparent and was probably the most unlikliest person to utter a lie or give excuses. It was simply not in her nature.
'I cannot imagine why you want to attend a seminar on lawl! I thought you had told me that you were not planning to pursue your studies any further and that you just wanted to work here? Whatever! In anycase, you are late for work and I am NOT letting you go early. I have already given you extra days off for your college exams and you had promised to compensate me for that. Now go out and start working.'
Highly disappointed but not used to question authority, Bani simply nodded her head and started walking out of the office, when Jigyasa gave a loud sigh and called back, 'If you get those sample invitations ready by 6 Pm today and get me a table for 8 at La Rochelle for tonight, I may let you go for that seminar or whatever you want to attend!'
Looking elated, Bani exclaimed with joy, 'Done, Mam! And...and thank you so much!' Literally skipping with joy, she went out of the office, making Jigaysa smile warmly.
How much she had changed over the last two years, since Jigyasa had first set eyes on the gawky, ill at ease girl in her brand new clothes (always a bad sign at any interview) barely managing to speak fluently in english and utterly under-confident small-town girl who had just arrived in Bangalore from some god-forsaken hilly nook called Mukteshwar or whatever it was.
Jigyasa had been very put-off when one of her clients, Nawin Singh had requested her to have a 'look' at some girl and whether she could fit her somewhere in her small but highly successful event management company. Nawin Singh's firm was one of their biggest clients and Jigyasa had been unable to deny the request.
Jigyasa had been completely unimpressed by Bani's non-existent resume and when the nervous and antsy girl had walked in for an interview, she had decided to give Bani such a hard time, that Nawin Singh would never dare to send another recommended candidate to her ever again.
But it took just ten minutes for Jigyasa to be utterly charmed by Bani's innocence and sincerity, which shined through her whole personality. And given that, her personal assistant had just put in her papers, unable to cope up with her bitter tounge and cold temper, she had decided to hire the girl on a lark and see what she could make out of her. At the worst, Jigyasa would have had to turn her out of the office for incompetence and at the best, she would have discovered an unpolished gem.
As it turned out, Jigyasa had indeed discovered a gem, though she made it a point to never let Bani know of the same, instead harassing and bullying her relentlessly to do better and better, never satisfied with her work, even though she knew that out of the 12 assistants that she had hired till date, Bani was the only one who actually came up to the standards of Jigyasa Bali.
Bani had set about working with single-minded focus, compensating her lack of education and exposure by sheer hard-work and dedication, learning everything that was to learn, putting with her boss's temperament with good-humour and patience. Besides, what Jigyasa loved the most about Bani was her optimism and that bright smile that she brought into the workplace everyday and it didn't take long before Jigyasa decided to never let go of her invaluable employee.
In-between working for Jigyasa's event management company, Bani also managed to complete her graduation, despite having an acute time-crunch and though she felt exhausted by the time she was back home from work, she made it a point to never give up on her studies...it was Jai's first wish for himself...and there was no way in hell that she was not going to fulfill it.
Bani kept looking at the writst watch feverishly, it was already half past six and Pushkar had told her that the seminar was set to begin around the same time and having known Jai for one whole year, Bani knew that he would be bang on time. She had a hard time convincing Pushkar why she wanted to attend the seminar and though he had been highly unconvinced by her strange explanaitons, he had made arrangements for her to enter the University Premises, telling her that they could attend the seminar together and join Rano for a Pizza dinner somewhere before going home.
Bani had managed to get a last minute dinner reservation in Jigyasa's name at La Rochelle with great difficulty and was just on the verge of finishing the sample invitations that Jigyasa had asked her to do, when her cell-phone rang.
It was Pushkar and from the noise in the background, it was apparent that he was already inside the auditorium. 'Bani? Where the hell are you? I kept waiting for you at the front gate!'
'I...I am stuck with some work, Pushkar! But I am almost done...I will take a cab and come...I should reach in the next 30 mintues or so.'
Pushkar sounded stunned when he said, 'you are taking a cab to the university, so that you can attend a seminar...that has nothing to do with your line of work? And Rano and I can't convince you to take a cab from the home or office even when it is raining cats and dogs? Why on earth are you so desperate to attend this seminar, Bani?'
Bani was left without an explanation and the only thing she could mutter was, 'I...I will explain everything to you later on. Bye...I have to wrap off a few things...see you at the auditorium.'
Rushing inside Jigyasa's room and then blurting out a hasty 'Sorry Mam' she spluttered out, 'I checked those sample invitations, Mam...I have made the changes and given them to Raghubir for further work...the dinner reservation has been made for 9 Pm at La Rochelle...and I have asked Pandiyan Anna to get your clothes from the dry-cleaners and drop them off at your place. Anything else Mam?'
Jigyasa was on the phone and gave an annoyed look at Bani and speaking on the phone she said, 'Just a moment sweetheart!' and spoke curtly to her, 'Do I have to teach you to knock on the door before barging in like a bull in a china shop?'
Bani sheepishly muttered, 'I am sorry, Mam...I was just getting late for the...'
'Yes...Yes...you can leave! And I want to see you dot on time tomorrow morning...no slacking. Okay?'
'Yes Mam. Thank you.' beamed Bani and just as Jigyasa went speaking on her phone again, she added, 'Have a lovely evening at La Rochelle, Mam.'
Jigyasa smiled as Bani went rushing out and spoke on the phone again, 'I am sorry, sweet-heart...that was my ditzy assistant!'
Jai laughed at the other end of the phone and replied back humourously, 'You and your assistants, Jiggy! Which number is this one?'
'Number 13...but she is a lucky one...has lasted the longest...its going to be two years!'
'Wow...so either that girl must be a super-woman or maybe you are getting older!'
Jigyasa laughed with delight and remarked, 'Old, my foot! Wait till we meet for dinner tonight...we will see who is old and who is not! Btw, are the others coming too?'
'Hmm...Ranveer, Senha, Nachiket, Purva, her parents, one of their relatives...a cousin or something!'
'Oh! Lovely, its a long time since I caught up with Neerja!'
'Purva's mom? You know her?'
'There is no one in Bangalore whom I don't know, sweetheart!' laughed Jigyasa and added, 'Who else?'
'Don't get mad...but your ex-husband is also with us!'
'What? Why did you have to bring Adi along? JAI!'
'Well, as it happens Jiggy...Adi might be your ex-husband, he still happens to be my colleague and the senior partner of our firm. He had some work to do in Bangalore and I had this seminar to conduct at NLS'
Jigyasa gave a small chuckle and said, 'Oh, so she was telling the truth!'
'Who was telling what truth?'
Jigyasa simply gave a short laugh and said, 'My assistant told me that she had a seminar to attend at Law School and I was wondering if she was fibbing about it...apparently not...though I cannot in the world imagine why she would want to attend a seminar on criminal law!'
Jai also laughed along and teased his old friend, 'Maybe she is planning to murder you and is readying herself for a defence in court by attending my seminar! Beware of her, Jiggy!'
'Oh, you don't know her...she can't deliberately kill an ant, leave aside killing a witch like me!'
Jai laughed uproariously on her comment and said, 'Hey look...just two more minutes till my seminar begins...lets catch up in detail later on tonight! Okay?'
'Okay, sweetie! See you then!'
National Law School
It was a quarter past eight, when Bani, soaked to the bones and looking like a complete wreck, jumped out of the cab after paying him the fare and rushed towards the University Gates, hoping against hope that somehow the seminar had got delayed and Jai was still there. But when she saw Pushkar waiting for her on the steps of the campus, covering himself with an umbrella against the torrential downpour, she knew that it was too late.
Walking up to her, Pushkar stopped the cab from leaving and said to Bani, 'It got over half an hour ago...what on earth took you so long?'
Feeling utterly dejected at having missed Jai by such a small margin, she answered in a lackluster voice, 'There was a traffic jam on the highway because of the rain...and it took me a long time to find a cab.'
'Now come...lets get in. You will catch a cold by the time we reach home and you still haven't told me, why this desperation to attend this seminar?'
Bani sat inside the cab quietly and looked out of the window at the rain lashed campus and mumbled in an inaudible voice, 'I was trying to alter my destiny...but I guess I forgot that life is not a game of scrabble after all.'
Pushkar blinked his eyes and was about to ask Bani what on earth she meant by what she had said, when he realized that she was speaking to herself. Wondering what he was missing, he decided not to push her any further on the topic and speak to her later sometime.
When they were midway, Bani turned to look at Pushkar and asked him in an absent voice, 'how was the seminar?'
'Oh, it was excellent! Mr. Walia is as talented an orator as he is a lawyer..its impossible to get distracted for even a second when he is speaking...and ofcourse, he has a mastery over his subject. You know, he did not refer to any notes or slides while giving the speech...completely impromptu...it was a well-researched and insightful lecture! And I guess its his genius that he can make a dry and boring subject like law to be so interesting!'
Bani kept quiet for sometime and then asked hesitantly, 'Did...did he look alright?'
'Huh? Who? Mr. Walia?' asked Pushkar, looking thoroughly bewildered by the inexplicable interest that Bani was taking in Jai Walia, who as per Pushkar's knowledge couldn't have anything to do with Bani.
'Yes...he was looking fine. There was some news about his battling spinal cancer a few years back, wasn't it? No signs of that now...he looked absolutely fine to me! All the girls and female staff in our college had occupied the front row seats to gawk at him...I suppose that proves he looked pretty fine!'
Bani smiled at Pushkar's comment and a cloud seemed to have lifted off her head, as the cab turned towards the Singh Residence.
Getting down from the cab, Bani turned to look at Pushkar and spoke with gratitude, 'Thank you for not questioning me today, Pushkar...you are a true friend. One day, I will tell you...and Rano everything.' And making that cryptic statement, she walked inside along with Pushkar, who looked utterly bewildered by now.
La Rochelle
Jai sat at the head of the table flanked by Nachiket on his left and Aditya on his right. Nachiket's fiancee Purva sat besides him, followed by her father and mother. Ranveer and Sneha sat on the opposite end and right next to Aditya, much to her annoyance was seated Jigyasa. A s**y and attractive looking lady sat next to Purva, her eyes set rather appreciatively on Jai ever since they were introduced at the beginning of the dinner party. She was Meera Raheja, Purva's cousin.
There was much clinking of wine glasses and revelery, when Jai got up to say a few words, looking a bit tired and jet-lagged but otherwise smiling.
'I couldn't be happier today to announce my beloved brother Nachiket's engagement to the lovely Purva Raheja...truly a girl in a million. And I hope all of you join me in raising a toast to the wonderful couple who are about to take a step towards matrimony very soon. I wish them a lifetime of happiness and togetherness, today and forever.'
Everyone clinked their glasses followed by a hearty applause, as Nitish Raheja smiled at Jai and said, 'I am so glad that our Purva has found a boy like Nachiket...and gladder that she is marrying into your family, Jai!'
Jai smiled and returned the compliment, as the ladies insisted on Purva showing them her engagement ring and complimented it on its flawless beauty.
'Its really gorgeous...thank you so much, Dada...Nachiket told me that you gave it to him.' spoke Purva shyly.
Jai smiled and said, 'it was our mother's heirloom...whoever was the first amongst us brothers to get a wife was to have it!'
'Its not really fair, Dada...actually your wife is the rightful owner to it!' spoke Purva.
'Well, I am not getting married in this lifetime...'
'Why not?' protested Nachiket, only to get a look from his elder brother who spoke with exaggerated patience, 'I think we have assembled here to discuss about Purva and your wedding and not mine! Anyway, if it pleases you, Ma had left two such rings...so another one is still lying!'
'I think we better start looking for a bride for Jai then!' joked Jigyasa, making everyone laugh.
'Jai, amongst all the women you dated...and believe me, its a huge number, how come you couldn't find one whom you wished to marry?' joked Aditya, guffawing loudly.
There was a sudden awkwardness in the air, as Nachiket looked mortified with guilt, only to be interrupted by Ranveer, who gave a look at his friend and said, 'Maybe he has found her...but hasn't yet found the courage to tell her that he wishes to marry her!'
Jai flushed and gave a half pleading, half threatening look at Ranveer, who was shaking quietly with laughter on seeing Jai's reaction to his words.
'Anyway...Anyway...now can we discuss about the upcoming wedding? I doubt all of us will be able to meet again like this in the near future because of our work committments...so why don't we use this time to discuss the wedding plans?' said Jai, mostly to take away the topic from him and concentrate on Nachiket and Purva.
The conversation turned towards the upcoming wedding and Jigyasa announced in her sleek voice, 'Well, one thing is decided for sure. The wedding planner. That is your truly!'
Adi gave a saucy comment in return leading to a hilarious war of words between them, while Meera tried rather unsuccessfully to gain Jai's attention, who in turn appeared distracted and absent-minded.
'Jai, you decide where the wedding should be held? You are the representative from the groom's side afterall?' spoke the graceful looking Neerja Raheja.
Jai smiled and said, 'If it is not an issue with anyone...I would love Chote and Purva to get married at our Chattarpur Farmhouse in Delhi...it is the first wedding in the family and that house was passed on to both of us from our parents...I thought it would be a nice ode to their memory.' and then quickly added, 'but anywhere else is also fine. I think Purva should get to decide...she is the bride afterall!'
Purva smiled warmly at her would be brother-in-law and holding Nachiket's hands said, 'If its my decision, then we would love to get married in Delhi...at your Farmhouse, Dada.'
'Sure? Nikhilji? Neerjaji?'
The senior Raheja's smiled and nodded their assent. Turning to look at Jigysasa, Jai asked, 'Jiggy, would it be a problem to arrange the wedding in Delhi...cause you are based out of here?'
'Are you kidding me? Nothing is a problem for me! Besides, I have a whole team working under me! I will send them over to your place in Delhi...they will manage everything. Which reminds me...Purva, why don't you and Neerja drop over to my office this week? And we can discuss the finer details! Plus, I will introduce you to the team who will be working with you on the wedding! Nachiket, you also come along!'
Purva excitedly yelped, 'I would love that! Is Thursday afternoon fine? Mummy, you are okay with it?'
Neerja smiled and said, 'I am not really upto date with all this wedding planning ect...why don't you and Meera go together? Let me handle the jewellery, clothes, relatives ect!'
Purva did not look too pleased with the idea but quietly accepted it, fixing an appointment with Jigyasa for the coming week.
'Jai...when would you like to fix an appointment with my team regarding the preparations?' asked Jigyasa.
Giving a dry look, Jai remarked, 'Please keep me out of all this, Jiggy!'
'Don't be silly! The wedding is going to happen at your place...you need to be in the loophole!'
'Not really! For one, I am not really into all this wedding hoopla...much as I adore my brother and his would-be-wife...and secondly, I don't think I have the time. So why don't you handle this on your own! You have carte blanche from my side!'
'Sure? Okay then...I will assign my team to work for both the groom and the bride's side! Great!'
The rest of the dinner went well, except that Jai looked increasingly distracted and lost and kept glancing at his phone...deliberating on whether to call up Bani or not. He had her number...at the last moment, he had taken the landline number of the family with whom Bani was staying from Pia. But he could not take the plunge and make a call to her...knowing very well, that it would lead to a chain reaction...he would not be able to stay away from her and from what he could make out after his conversation with Pia, Bani was still very much hung up on him.
Jai could hardly believe it...4 years was a long time...a very long time for a young girl to wait and yearn for someone who had actually told her that they would never meet again. What was she waiting for then? Or maybe he was just over-imagining things...Bani must have moved on, so what if she wasn't married by now? She must have someone in her life...a boyfriend...someone from work or from the neighbourhood. What did it matter if he placed a call and just asked her how she was doing? She would feel so good about it.
And then almost instantly, shrugged the thought! Whom was he fooling? He wanted to speak with Bani not for her, but for himself...he hand't been able to get her out of his mind for the last 4 years and ever since his meeting with Pia, Jai had been increasingly torn between letting things remain as they were by not regaining any contact with Bani or letting go of his personal hassled and just place a call and speak with her.
Jai supposed that it was his training as a lawyer which stopped him from taking any impulsive decision, as he once again, decided to leave everything on fate. If they had to meet, they would somehow...and if it was written in their fate to go their seperate ways, then nothing on heaven or earth could change that.
“Coincidence is
God's way of remaining anonymous.”
- Albert Einstein, The World as I See It
Part 7 (c)
A few days earlier
Nirvana Yoga Studio
'Pull your spine upwards, tilting your pelvis towards the front...take a deep breath and utter Om...' crooned the soothing voice of Bani's Yoga instructor in the group class that she had started attending a few months back. Bani found it amusing that she had to pay a relatively expensive sum to learn techniques of breathing and exercise that her father could have taught her for free, had she ever shown any interest. But once she had started taking herself seriously and found herself aiming for a fitter and healthier body, Bani decided that investing some money in learning Yoga was probably a good thing...just like investing money in her new wardrobe and look had been.
Bani was following the instructions, when she heard a rustle of noise and opening juse one eye, she looked at the latecomer and smiled at her direction.
'Gosh! Am I late again?' whispered Purva Raheja, Bani's yoga partner and newly found friend of the last three months.
'Only two minutes...warm up exercises!' whispered Bani, taking her attention back to the meditation exercise her instructor was making them do.
'Bani, I have a HUGE news to share!' whispered Purva back, settling down on her Yoga mat and evoking Bani to open her eyes and whisper back feverishly, 'What?'
Both the girls fell silent when their instructor passed a stern look in their direction, but the moment she turned at attention someplace else, Purva whispered back with barely controlled emotion, 'I got engaged yesterday!'
'WHAT!' yelped Bani so loudly, that everyone opened their eyes and turned to face her direction, making her go deep pink.
'Bani? What happened?' asked her Yoga instructor, looking worried.
'Er...I...I...' muttered Bani, flushing with embarrassment even as Purva tried to contain her giggling and quickly replied, 'Donna, I think she just got a muscle pull...you guys go on...I will take her out. Lets not disturb the class.'
Before Bani could react, Purva literally dragged her outside, even as Bani protested, 'Purva...its 200 rupees a class! Please! Let’s go back!'
'Oh, to hell with it! I am dying to share my news with you and you want to do your Rupees 200 an hour meditation!' exclaimed Purva, evoking laughter from Bani.
'Okay...let me see your ring first...WOW...that's just gorgeous, Purva! I am so happy for you! Many, many congratulations...to you and your fiancee!' said Bani warmly, hugging her friend.
'You can congratulate him in person when he comes to pick me up! Besides, I was dying to introduce him to you!' gushed Purva.
'So, how did this happen? When did this happen? And when is the wedding?' asked Bani, as both the girls walked out of the studio, towards the Coffee Shop.
'Well yesterday...out of nowhere...he wrote me an inter-office email...you know, we both work in the same Bank...and he just asked me for a casual date...took me to my favourite place...Chutney Chang...and never gave me a hint of what was in his mind. When the dinner was over...he ordered a cake...which he never does...I should have guessed something was up...and when I cut it...out comes this gorgeous 7 carat Emerald and Diamond ring...a family heirloom, mind you! Oooh...Bani, I am so happy for myself!'
Bani could not help but burst into a delighted laugh on seeing Purva so elated and asked her excitedly, 'This is such wonderful news! So when is the wedding? And have you met your in-laws? How are they?'
Purva answered back in a sombre voice, 'Nachiket's parents died when he was still quite young. His older brother has raised him. He is coming next weekend to Bangalore to meet up with my parents!'
'Have you met him already? Did he give his approval? How's his wife? Have you met her?' asked Bani with lively curiosity.
'Dada...that is my Fiancée’s brother is still single! I don't think he intends to marry or something like that! But he is such an amazing man! He was so happy for both of us...in fact, if not for him, I doubt Nachiket would have had popped up the question of marriage! You must have heard his brother's name in the media....' Purva could not complete her sentence, when Bani notice noticed a tall, fair and handsome young man walked in and tapped gently on Purva's shoulders!
'Nachiket!' she yelled with joy, jumping from her chair and kissing him on his lips, causing Bani to blush at the display of affection.
'Hey gorgeous! How come you are out of your Yoga class so early? I thought I would drop in a few minutes before we were supposed to meet and finish some emails!'
'We bunked our class! Actually I bunked the class and made Bani bunk it too! Which reminds me...Nachiket, please meet my dear friend and Yoga partner, Bani! And Bani, please meet my boyfriend...no...no...correction...my fiancée...Nachiket!'
Bani gave a bashful smile at Nachiket as he grinned affectionately back at Purva's general excitement at her affianced status and thrust his hand forward to greet Bani, 'Hi Bani, lovely meeting you! Purva mentions you many a times these days!'
Bani blushed a bit and shook his hands awkwardly, not wanting to interrupt the lovebirds on their date and said, 'I think I should be taking off now...I had promised my aunt to go grocery shopping with her! Once again, many congratulations...' and then smiling shyly, added, 'May God bless both of you with a lifetime of happiness.'
'Stay with us for a cup of coffee, Bani!' insisted Purva and Nachiket too asked her politely, 'Yes, please! We won't mind at all!'
Bani laughed at Nachiket's comment and answered back, 'Thank you so much! Very kind of you...but I really have to go. Maybe sometime later! Bye!'
Bani and Purva hugged and bid goodbye and Nachiket could not help but comment, 'What a sweet girl, Purva! I think she is your only friend whom I have taken a liking to till date!' Purva hit him on his hand playfully and they both sat in his car to go for a drive.
A few days later
Jigyasa had just finished holding the weekly meeting with all her employees and as soon as everyone started filtering out, she called out a couple of them including Bani to stay back in the room.
'Guys, we have an important wedding coming up very soon! Its short notice...because the bride and groom have to fly out of country on a deputation in two months’ time...and it’s a high-profile wedding, because they both belong to...well high-profile families! So I want an entire team dedicated to this event and since its off-site, they are expected to be working out of Bangalore!'
Humeria, Saurabh, Onir, Pooja, Sam, Nishant and Bani listened attentively, though Bani could not understand why she was asked to stay back.
Even though it was more than two years that she had been working with Jigyasa Bali's company, she had never handled anything remotely high-profile...mostly doing the background work and assisting her boss. Even thought she was proficient in every aspect of event planning by now, somehow her lack of confidence simply did not process the thought that a perfectionist like Jigyasa could ever give her the task of working on a high-profile wedding, like the one she was talking about now.
'So as I was saying...the wedding is not just on short-notice but also high-profile...so everything has to be perfect! Besides, I know both the bride and the groom's side personally, so it’s all the more important, that nothing gets screwed up.'
Everyone nodded their head, looking excited at the thought of being in a team for such an event, except Bani, whom Jigyasa caught on and asked snappishly, 'Bani, why the hell do you have that Deer before the headlight expression?'
'Er...Um...Nothing Mam...I was just wondering...'
'Leave the wondering to me! And simply listen to my instructions!' snapped back Jigyasa.
'Humeira, Sam, Onir and Nishant...I want the four of you to work from here...coordinate with the bride's family...Saurabh, Pooja and Bani, I want you to work from Delhi, that is for the groom's side.'
While Saurabh and Pooja looked thrilled, the mention of Delhi brought cold sweat on Bani's face...but only for a moment. What was she worrying about? It was not like just landing in Delhi could get her face to face with Jai...besides; she could meet Pia once again. Bani had been very worried about her when she had met her last year, though for some reason, Ashwin felt like the right guy for someone as flighty and wishy-washy as Pia.
Catching the expression on Bani's face, Jigyasa asked in a threatening tone, 'What's the problem, Dixit? Now don't tell me you can't go to Delhi!'
'No...No, Mam! I can! Er...who are the bride and groom?'
'You will be meeting them today afternoon, when they come for an orientation session. I want all of you to be present here! Alright?' Saying that Jigyasa scooted everyone off, while Bani pondered on the pros and cons of going to Delhi, then dismissed the thought from her mind, thinking that there was no way she was going to come across Jai. If she could not meet him in Bangalore, despite her trying to attend his seminar, how plausible was it for Bani to meet him in Delhi, where he was probably locked up in his high-profile office surrounded by his team of assistants and security personnel.
The following afternoon
Looking smart in her starched cotton salwar kameez, Bani had just entered the conference room for the scheduled meeting at 4 Pm, when her eyes fell upon Purva and a rather haughty looking lady, who gave the impression of being a know-it-all.
'Bani!' exclaimed Purva in surprise, almost dropping the lemonade that she had been sipping away, when she saw her friend walking inside the room.
'Purva? How come you are here?' prattled Bani and then suddenly realized that she was in her office, in the presence of her boss and colleagues.
'You two know each other?' asked Jigyasa looking diverted from the serious discussion that had been going on regarding the wedding.
'Yes Mam! Purva and I are partners in the Yoga Class we attend together! Oh! What a coincidence!'
Purva grinned and replied to Bani, 'You bet! I don't think you even mentioned working here...but look! Oh! Wow! This is so exciting! Jigyasa aunty...please, please, please...put Bani in the team for our wedding!'
Bani flushed and instantly looked down, while Jigyasa gave a grin and said, 'Good news, honey! Your friend is indeed in the team for your big day...but I have put her up for Delhi...she will be working on-site! Bani, in fact will be heading the team based out of Delhi.’
Nachiket, who had been on a phone-call came inside the room and greeted everyone, reacting with pleasant surprise when he saw Bani and heard that she would be working at the venue for the wedding.
'Well...this sounds great!' and then passing an impish look with Jigyasa, said to her, 'Bani, you will really enjoy working in Delhi...but just make sure to keep out of my brother's sight! He’s a bit of a recluse and has something of a legendary temper...all this wedding preparations, decorations, young girls and boys running about with flowers, fabrics and fairy lights etc. does not exactly cheer him up!'
'Very funny Nachiket! Don't scare my employees, please! So is it okay if Saurabh, Pooja, Bani and a couple of other workers stay at the venue...at your Farmhouse?'
'Absolutely! I just finished speaking to Dada...he is fine with it! He just comes to the Farmhouse on weekends to relax; your team is more than welcome to camp there! It would be easier for them to coordinate and work too!'
'Oh! Great! Bani...ask Vinayak to arrange for your and the other three’s tickets for the 15th, better to get started ASAP, as it is that time is very short. I want you guys to go and do an assessment and start working on the arrangements, placements etc.! Humeira and the rest of the Bangalore team will provide logistics support from here!'
'Yes, Mam!' chimed Bani even as her eyes fell on the sample invitation to the wedding, that Nachiket and Purva had just finalised.
'Bani...we just finalized the wedding invite! Why don't you have a look?' smiled Purva, handing over the sample invitation card to her friend, much to Purva’s cousin, Meera’s annoyance, who did not like the mingling and apparent friendship between both the girls.
'Oh...the invite! It looks lovely!' smiled Bani, opening it and reading it aloud.
'Neerja and Nitish Raheja cordially invite you to celebrate the wedding of their beloved daughter, Purva on 15 April, (Sunday) at Krishna Villa, Anand Gram, Chattarpur, Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road with Nachiket Walia, son of (late Krishna and Uday Walia).' It took about a minute for the words to sink in and then with an expression of absolute alarm on her face, she stared at Nachiket and stuttered, 'Nachiket Walia? That...that is your full name?'
Looking surprised at her reaction, Nachiket answered courteously, 'Yes...why do you ask?'
'I...um...No...Nothing...it’s just...' Bani could barely finish her sentence!
What were the odds that the Walia surname could only belong to a certain man...but then she remembered both Purva and Nachiket mentioning about his older brother...was it just coincidence or...' The words seemed to float in her head...Nachiket's older brother...single...living in Delhi...but then, hadn't Jai told her that he and his brother were not on speaking terms for the last many years?
She was probably just imagining things...Walia was not a particularly unusual surname...especially not in North India! Besides, there was no mention of Jai's name in the wedding invite.
Rudely waking her up from her stream of thoughts, Jigyasa's raspy voice came yelling into Bani's ears, 'Bani...we are just wasting time now! Just because you are friends with the bride does not mean there will be any unprofessionalism on your part...now come on...stop day-dreaming and set down to work. Sit down with Pooja and make a list of all our vendors and contacts in Delhi...after you are done with that, sit down with the design team for the theme...call up our caterer and fix a meeting with me for tomorrow morning 9 Am sharp and we will have a heads-up at the end of the week to chalk out the details! Now scoot out...go...go!' ordered Jigyasa in her stern but affectionate manner, as Bani bid a preoccupied goodbye to both Purva and Nachiket and went back to her work-station, wondering if she was just imagining things or was it her destiny in action again!
As soon as Bani went out, Jigyasa grinned and remarked warmly, 'She is really a very sweet girl...a bit low on confidence...which of course benefits me enormously...but otherwise my most cherished employee. Singularly committed, loyal and capable of working like a mule from day to night without a word of complaint! And let me assure you, she will do a great job of heading the team in Delhi. She is very creative and original in her ideas! Some of the work she did with a couple of weddings and parties were highly appreciated by our clients’
Before Purva and Nachiket could agree to the statement, Meera commented in an acidic tone, ‘I am not so sure, Ms. Bali! The girl doesn’t seem very up to date to me…and this wedding will be covered in the media and all…I think you should let someone more fashionable and classy do this job.’
Staring down icily at Meera, Jigyasa answered back in a perfectly civil but unquestionably cold voice, ‘Let me assure you Miss Raheja, I have been in this business for more than a decade now…and I know perfectly well what my employees are capable of. So you need not worry about their capabilities.’
Purva could not help but stifle a giggle at the putdown but only till Nachiket chipped in helpfully, ‘Meera di…if you have any doubts, why don’t you also go to Delhi? After all your Purva’s cousin…you have full right to involve yourself in the preparations! You can stay at the Farmhouse and supervise everything. What do you think Purva?’
Purva was about to register a protest alongside Jigyasa, when Meera caught on to the offer and giving a lavish smile at Nachiket, cooed, ‘I think I will have to do that! Though God knows how busy I am…but after all, it’s my darling cousin’s wedding and I don’t watch a bunch of down-market nincompoop screwing it up!’
Jigyasa looked enraged at the slur on her employees, especially Bani, for whom she knew the insult was directed, but kept silent, not wanting to start a scrimmage on such a happy occasion. Besides, she had full faith in Bani…she would easily handle the likes of Meera Raheja, without losing her temper or creating a scene. In fact, in her entire team, Bani was probably the only one who could handle both Meera and Jai, if in case he did involve himself in the wedding preparations.
When Meera excused herself to go to the washroom, Purva whispered back in a furious tone to him,’Nachiket! Why on earth did you have to suggest HER to go to Delhi? For goodness sake! Jigyasa aunty was handling everything, wasn’t she?’
Jigyasa too added her bit, speaking in a highly upset voice, ‘Really Nachiket! Don’t you trust me to handle your wedding arrangements? My team does not need supervision…they are a very resourceful and competent bunch! I don’t like the idea of that woman bossing around on my kids!’
Looking beleaguered, Nachiket mumbled, ‘Oh…Wow…I just…I never meant to do any harm! I only suggested for Meera didi to go to Delhi…so that she might bond with Dada…you know get to spend some time with him…’
Getting a flabbergasted expression from both Jigyasa and Purva, Nachiket got even more flustered and blurted out sheepishly, ‘She couldn’t take her eyes off Dada at La Rochelle…and well…Dada is single after all…I thought they would make a good match…’
‘Oh! For goodness’s sake, Nachiket! Jai does not need your help to get him a woman!’ Jigyasa said in a disdainful tone.
‘And Meera? I can’t stand the sight of her! God knows why Mummy has put her after me!’ complained Purva, adding unhappily, ‘Nachiket, Bani is my friend also…you have put me in a tight spot! Knowing Meera, there is no way in hell that she won’t try to boss over the team at Delhi…particularly Bani, now that she knows we are friends!’
Taking pity on Nachiket, Jigyasa played the arbitrator and spoke soothingly, ‘Purva, don’t worry about Bani or my team…they are all professionals…we are more than used to handle every types! And Nachiket…I don’t know if you have noticed or not, but Jai is not the same man he used to be!’
‘A few years back, with the level of lewd attention that Meera was showering on Jai at La Rochelle, they would have landed in the back seat of his Mercedes doing unmentionables by the end of that evening…’
Purva looked thoroughly scandalized at Jigyasa’s statement while Nachiket went hysterical with laughter, as she continued in a more sympathetic vein, ‘But he has changed so much over the last three to four years…after the Cancer experience…I don’t think he even noticed Meera that night…I doubt he has noticed any woman lately! God knows what’s up with him!’
‘That’s why it worries me! Dada has changed so much…and I have a feeling it has nothing to do with his battling Cancer…though I can’t be sure, because I wasn’t around with him at that time. But there is something else…he looks increasingly preoccupied and lost…did you notice how he kept checking his phone that evening, even though no one called?’ spoke Nachiket.
Jigyasa too wondered about her friend and then shrugging her head, spoke sanguinely, ‘He must have a thousand things in his head…work related in all probability! Anyway…now let’s come back to the wedding…btw, why the hell isn’t Jai’s name on the invite?’
Nachiket chuckled and replied back, ‘Dada issued a strict order that he didn’t want his name popping up in the card or anywhere as much as it was possible…you know because he is currently heading that controversial Coal Scam Murder case…a couple of Union ministers are involved…he wants his connection with our wedding to be kept at the bare minimum, so that he receives no unwanted publicity in the media while the case is still going on.’
‘Jai thinks way too much! Typical lawyer…doesn’t have a bone of impulse in his body!’ cackled Jigyasa, just as Meera joined them again and they went on to finalize other details for the wedding.
A few days later
‘Finished with your packing?’ asked Rano, as she helped Bani put away her small suitcase underneath the bed.
‘Yes… I hope so!’
‘What fun, isn’t it? Organizing weddings? Especially those of rich people, who have no budgets!’ sighed Rano, making Bani and Pushkar laugh.
‘That’s not true, Rano…every wedding has a budget…some more, some less…but trust me, everyone works on a budget! And believe me if you can…organizing wedding is anything but fun!’ smiled Bani.
‘The Raheja’s are stinking rich, aren’t they? You never told me that you knew Purva Raheja!’ protested Rano.
‘I didn’t know which family she belonged to…besides, how does it even matter! She is a really nice girl and Nachiket is a really nice guy too! Touchwood…they are made for each other!’
‘What’s his background? Which rich father’s son is he?’ asked Rano with animated inquisitiveness.
Bani seemed hesitant to speak in front of Pushkar, but she answered anyway, ‘I don’t know…his surname is Walia…but Jigyasa Mam was telling us that he too belongs to a very high-profile family…’
Pushkar raised his eyebrows and giving a look at Bani asked her, ‘Walia as in related to Jai Walia, the lawyer?’
Bani blushed crimson…she had still not given him a clarification for her strange behaviour a few weeks back when she had been so desperate to attend the seminar that Jai had conducted.
‘I don’t know…I don’t think so! His name would have cropped up in somewhere if that was the case. I think this is some other Walia.’ Answered Bani conversationally, trying to avoid looking at Pushkar.
Changing the topic, Bani quickly asked him, ‘So where will you be staying in Delhi? I can’t believe the coincidence…we are both travelling to Delhi at the same time, though for different purposes!’
‘I know…this field research thing just came up last minute at our college! I will stay at my Bua’s place…you must remember meeting her in Mukteshwar. Gita Bua! She lives in Sarojini Nagar…that’s not very far from the place you guys will be staying. In fact, my work should be over by five in the evening…and I am hoping that you also won’t be working till 10 at night on the wedding thing…so why don’t we get together every evening…and I can show you around Delhi?’
Bani beamed back at Pushkar and said, ‘Sounds great! I would love that…maybe we can take Pia and Ashwinji with us also!’
Pushkar did not look at all keen about the idea, but nodded his head for conventionalism sake and before bidding goodbye, said to her, ‘See you tomorrow morning then! Sleep tight…we have an early morning flight to catch!’
Just before leaving, Pushkar turned to look at Bani who was arranging her work files and spoke cryptically, ‘Seems a bit of a coincidence isn’t it? The whole Nachiket Walia and Purva Raheja wedding…’
‘Huh?’
‘If I were you, I would have enquired a bit more into Nachiket Walia’s background…I won’t be surprised if indeed Jai Walia turns out to be his older brother!’
And chortling at the flabbergasted expression on Bani’s face, he added before closing the door of her room, ‘And even if that is the case, look at the bright side! At least you will have a higher chance of spotting him at his own house, even if you missed him at the seminar!’
- Albert Einstein, The World as I See It
Part 7 (c)
A few days earlier
Nirvana Yoga Studio
'Pull your spine upwards, tilting your pelvis towards the front...take a deep breath and utter Om...' crooned the soothing voice of Bani's Yoga instructor in the group class that she had started attending a few months back. Bani found it amusing that she had to pay a relatively expensive sum to learn techniques of breathing and exercise that her father could have taught her for free, had she ever shown any interest. But once she had started taking herself seriously and found herself aiming for a fitter and healthier body, Bani decided that investing some money in learning Yoga was probably a good thing...just like investing money in her new wardrobe and look had been.
Bani was following the instructions, when she heard a rustle of noise and opening juse one eye, she looked at the latecomer and smiled at her direction.
'Gosh! Am I late again?' whispered Purva Raheja, Bani's yoga partner and newly found friend of the last three months.
'Only two minutes...warm up exercises!' whispered Bani, taking her attention back to the meditation exercise her instructor was making them do.
'Bani, I have a HUGE news to share!' whispered Purva back, settling down on her Yoga mat and evoking Bani to open her eyes and whisper back feverishly, 'What?'
Both the girls fell silent when their instructor passed a stern look in their direction, but the moment she turned at attention someplace else, Purva whispered back with barely controlled emotion, 'I got engaged yesterday!'
'WHAT!' yelped Bani so loudly, that everyone opened their eyes and turned to face her direction, making her go deep pink.
'Bani? What happened?' asked her Yoga instructor, looking worried.
'Er...I...I...' muttered Bani, flushing with embarrassment even as Purva tried to contain her giggling and quickly replied, 'Donna, I think she just got a muscle pull...you guys go on...I will take her out. Lets not disturb the class.'
Before Bani could react, Purva literally dragged her outside, even as Bani protested, 'Purva...its 200 rupees a class! Please! Let’s go back!'
'Oh, to hell with it! I am dying to share my news with you and you want to do your Rupees 200 an hour meditation!' exclaimed Purva, evoking laughter from Bani.
'Okay...let me see your ring first...WOW...that's just gorgeous, Purva! I am so happy for you! Many, many congratulations...to you and your fiancee!' said Bani warmly, hugging her friend.
'You can congratulate him in person when he comes to pick me up! Besides, I was dying to introduce him to you!' gushed Purva.
'So, how did this happen? When did this happen? And when is the wedding?' asked Bani, as both the girls walked out of the studio, towards the Coffee Shop.
'Well yesterday...out of nowhere...he wrote me an inter-office email...you know, we both work in the same Bank...and he just asked me for a casual date...took me to my favourite place...Chutney Chang...and never gave me a hint of what was in his mind. When the dinner was over...he ordered a cake...which he never does...I should have guessed something was up...and when I cut it...out comes this gorgeous 7 carat Emerald and Diamond ring...a family heirloom, mind you! Oooh...Bani, I am so happy for myself!'
Bani could not help but burst into a delighted laugh on seeing Purva so elated and asked her excitedly, 'This is such wonderful news! So when is the wedding? And have you met your in-laws? How are they?'
Purva answered back in a sombre voice, 'Nachiket's parents died when he was still quite young. His older brother has raised him. He is coming next weekend to Bangalore to meet up with my parents!'
'Have you met him already? Did he give his approval? How's his wife? Have you met her?' asked Bani with lively curiosity.
'Dada...that is my Fiancée’s brother is still single! I don't think he intends to marry or something like that! But he is such an amazing man! He was so happy for both of us...in fact, if not for him, I doubt Nachiket would have had popped up the question of marriage! You must have heard his brother's name in the media....' Purva could not complete her sentence, when Bani notice noticed a tall, fair and handsome young man walked in and tapped gently on Purva's shoulders!
'Nachiket!' she yelled with joy, jumping from her chair and kissing him on his lips, causing Bani to blush at the display of affection.
'Hey gorgeous! How come you are out of your Yoga class so early? I thought I would drop in a few minutes before we were supposed to meet and finish some emails!'
'We bunked our class! Actually I bunked the class and made Bani bunk it too! Which reminds me...Nachiket, please meet my dear friend and Yoga partner, Bani! And Bani, please meet my boyfriend...no...no...correction...my fiancée...Nachiket!'
Bani gave a bashful smile at Nachiket as he grinned affectionately back at Purva's general excitement at her affianced status and thrust his hand forward to greet Bani, 'Hi Bani, lovely meeting you! Purva mentions you many a times these days!'
Bani blushed a bit and shook his hands awkwardly, not wanting to interrupt the lovebirds on their date and said, 'I think I should be taking off now...I had promised my aunt to go grocery shopping with her! Once again, many congratulations...' and then smiling shyly, added, 'May God bless both of you with a lifetime of happiness.'
'Stay with us for a cup of coffee, Bani!' insisted Purva and Nachiket too asked her politely, 'Yes, please! We won't mind at all!'
Bani laughed at Nachiket's comment and answered back, 'Thank you so much! Very kind of you...but I really have to go. Maybe sometime later! Bye!'
Bani and Purva hugged and bid goodbye and Nachiket could not help but comment, 'What a sweet girl, Purva! I think she is your only friend whom I have taken a liking to till date!' Purva hit him on his hand playfully and they both sat in his car to go for a drive.
A few days later
Jigyasa had just finished holding the weekly meeting with all her employees and as soon as everyone started filtering out, she called out a couple of them including Bani to stay back in the room.
'Guys, we have an important wedding coming up very soon! Its short notice...because the bride and groom have to fly out of country on a deputation in two months’ time...and it’s a high-profile wedding, because they both belong to...well high-profile families! So I want an entire team dedicated to this event and since its off-site, they are expected to be working out of Bangalore!'
Humeria, Saurabh, Onir, Pooja, Sam, Nishant and Bani listened attentively, though Bani could not understand why she was asked to stay back.
Even though it was more than two years that she had been working with Jigyasa Bali's company, she had never handled anything remotely high-profile...mostly doing the background work and assisting her boss. Even thought she was proficient in every aspect of event planning by now, somehow her lack of confidence simply did not process the thought that a perfectionist like Jigyasa could ever give her the task of working on a high-profile wedding, like the one she was talking about now.
'So as I was saying...the wedding is not just on short-notice but also high-profile...so everything has to be perfect! Besides, I know both the bride and the groom's side personally, so it’s all the more important, that nothing gets screwed up.'
Everyone nodded their head, looking excited at the thought of being in a team for such an event, except Bani, whom Jigyasa caught on and asked snappishly, 'Bani, why the hell do you have that Deer before the headlight expression?'
'Er...Um...Nothing Mam...I was just wondering...'
'Leave the wondering to me! And simply listen to my instructions!' snapped back Jigyasa.
'Humeira, Sam, Onir and Nishant...I want the four of you to work from here...coordinate with the bride's family...Saurabh, Pooja and Bani, I want you to work from Delhi, that is for the groom's side.'
While Saurabh and Pooja looked thrilled, the mention of Delhi brought cold sweat on Bani's face...but only for a moment. What was she worrying about? It was not like just landing in Delhi could get her face to face with Jai...besides; she could meet Pia once again. Bani had been very worried about her when she had met her last year, though for some reason, Ashwin felt like the right guy for someone as flighty and wishy-washy as Pia.
Catching the expression on Bani's face, Jigyasa asked in a threatening tone, 'What's the problem, Dixit? Now don't tell me you can't go to Delhi!'
'No...No, Mam! I can! Er...who are the bride and groom?'
'You will be meeting them today afternoon, when they come for an orientation session. I want all of you to be present here! Alright?' Saying that Jigyasa scooted everyone off, while Bani pondered on the pros and cons of going to Delhi, then dismissed the thought from her mind, thinking that there was no way she was going to come across Jai. If she could not meet him in Bangalore, despite her trying to attend his seminar, how plausible was it for Bani to meet him in Delhi, where he was probably locked up in his high-profile office surrounded by his team of assistants and security personnel.
The following afternoon
Looking smart in her starched cotton salwar kameez, Bani had just entered the conference room for the scheduled meeting at 4 Pm, when her eyes fell upon Purva and a rather haughty looking lady, who gave the impression of being a know-it-all.
'Bani!' exclaimed Purva in surprise, almost dropping the lemonade that she had been sipping away, when she saw her friend walking inside the room.
'Purva? How come you are here?' prattled Bani and then suddenly realized that she was in her office, in the presence of her boss and colleagues.
'You two know each other?' asked Jigyasa looking diverted from the serious discussion that had been going on regarding the wedding.
'Yes Mam! Purva and I are partners in the Yoga Class we attend together! Oh! What a coincidence!'
Purva grinned and replied to Bani, 'You bet! I don't think you even mentioned working here...but look! Oh! Wow! This is so exciting! Jigyasa aunty...please, please, please...put Bani in the team for our wedding!'
Bani flushed and instantly looked down, while Jigyasa gave a grin and said, 'Good news, honey! Your friend is indeed in the team for your big day...but I have put her up for Delhi...she will be working on-site! Bani, in fact will be heading the team based out of Delhi.’
Nachiket, who had been on a phone-call came inside the room and greeted everyone, reacting with pleasant surprise when he saw Bani and heard that she would be working at the venue for the wedding.
'Well...this sounds great!' and then passing an impish look with Jigyasa, said to her, 'Bani, you will really enjoy working in Delhi...but just make sure to keep out of my brother's sight! He’s a bit of a recluse and has something of a legendary temper...all this wedding preparations, decorations, young girls and boys running about with flowers, fabrics and fairy lights etc. does not exactly cheer him up!'
'Very funny Nachiket! Don't scare my employees, please! So is it okay if Saurabh, Pooja, Bani and a couple of other workers stay at the venue...at your Farmhouse?'
'Absolutely! I just finished speaking to Dada...he is fine with it! He just comes to the Farmhouse on weekends to relax; your team is more than welcome to camp there! It would be easier for them to coordinate and work too!'
'Oh! Great! Bani...ask Vinayak to arrange for your and the other three’s tickets for the 15th, better to get started ASAP, as it is that time is very short. I want you guys to go and do an assessment and start working on the arrangements, placements etc.! Humeira and the rest of the Bangalore team will provide logistics support from here!'
'Yes, Mam!' chimed Bani even as her eyes fell on the sample invitation to the wedding, that Nachiket and Purva had just finalised.
'Bani...we just finalized the wedding invite! Why don't you have a look?' smiled Purva, handing over the sample invitation card to her friend, much to Purva’s cousin, Meera’s annoyance, who did not like the mingling and apparent friendship between both the girls.
'Oh...the invite! It looks lovely!' smiled Bani, opening it and reading it aloud.
'Neerja and Nitish Raheja cordially invite you to celebrate the wedding of their beloved daughter, Purva on 15 April, (Sunday) at Krishna Villa, Anand Gram, Chattarpur, Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road with Nachiket Walia, son of (late Krishna and Uday Walia).' It took about a minute for the words to sink in and then with an expression of absolute alarm on her face, she stared at Nachiket and stuttered, 'Nachiket Walia? That...that is your full name?'
Looking surprised at her reaction, Nachiket answered courteously, 'Yes...why do you ask?'
'I...um...No...Nothing...it’s just...' Bani could barely finish her sentence!
What were the odds that the Walia surname could only belong to a certain man...but then she remembered both Purva and Nachiket mentioning about his older brother...was it just coincidence or...' The words seemed to float in her head...Nachiket's older brother...single...living in Delhi...but then, hadn't Jai told her that he and his brother were not on speaking terms for the last many years?
She was probably just imagining things...Walia was not a particularly unusual surname...especially not in North India! Besides, there was no mention of Jai's name in the wedding invite.
Rudely waking her up from her stream of thoughts, Jigyasa's raspy voice came yelling into Bani's ears, 'Bani...we are just wasting time now! Just because you are friends with the bride does not mean there will be any unprofessionalism on your part...now come on...stop day-dreaming and set down to work. Sit down with Pooja and make a list of all our vendors and contacts in Delhi...after you are done with that, sit down with the design team for the theme...call up our caterer and fix a meeting with me for tomorrow morning 9 Am sharp and we will have a heads-up at the end of the week to chalk out the details! Now scoot out...go...go!' ordered Jigyasa in her stern but affectionate manner, as Bani bid a preoccupied goodbye to both Purva and Nachiket and went back to her work-station, wondering if she was just imagining things or was it her destiny in action again!
As soon as Bani went out, Jigyasa grinned and remarked warmly, 'She is really a very sweet girl...a bit low on confidence...which of course benefits me enormously...but otherwise my most cherished employee. Singularly committed, loyal and capable of working like a mule from day to night without a word of complaint! And let me assure you, she will do a great job of heading the team in Delhi. She is very creative and original in her ideas! Some of the work she did with a couple of weddings and parties were highly appreciated by our clients’
Before Purva and Nachiket could agree to the statement, Meera commented in an acidic tone, ‘I am not so sure, Ms. Bali! The girl doesn’t seem very up to date to me…and this wedding will be covered in the media and all…I think you should let someone more fashionable and classy do this job.’
Staring down icily at Meera, Jigyasa answered back in a perfectly civil but unquestionably cold voice, ‘Let me assure you Miss Raheja, I have been in this business for more than a decade now…and I know perfectly well what my employees are capable of. So you need not worry about their capabilities.’
Purva could not help but stifle a giggle at the putdown but only till Nachiket chipped in helpfully, ‘Meera di…if you have any doubts, why don’t you also go to Delhi? After all your Purva’s cousin…you have full right to involve yourself in the preparations! You can stay at the Farmhouse and supervise everything. What do you think Purva?’
Purva was about to register a protest alongside Jigyasa, when Meera caught on to the offer and giving a lavish smile at Nachiket, cooed, ‘I think I will have to do that! Though God knows how busy I am…but after all, it’s my darling cousin’s wedding and I don’t watch a bunch of down-market nincompoop screwing it up!’
Jigyasa looked enraged at the slur on her employees, especially Bani, for whom she knew the insult was directed, but kept silent, not wanting to start a scrimmage on such a happy occasion. Besides, she had full faith in Bani…she would easily handle the likes of Meera Raheja, without losing her temper or creating a scene. In fact, in her entire team, Bani was probably the only one who could handle both Meera and Jai, if in case he did involve himself in the wedding preparations.
When Meera excused herself to go to the washroom, Purva whispered back in a furious tone to him,’Nachiket! Why on earth did you have to suggest HER to go to Delhi? For goodness sake! Jigyasa aunty was handling everything, wasn’t she?’
Jigyasa too added her bit, speaking in a highly upset voice, ‘Really Nachiket! Don’t you trust me to handle your wedding arrangements? My team does not need supervision…they are a very resourceful and competent bunch! I don’t like the idea of that woman bossing around on my kids!’
Looking beleaguered, Nachiket mumbled, ‘Oh…Wow…I just…I never meant to do any harm! I only suggested for Meera didi to go to Delhi…so that she might bond with Dada…you know get to spend some time with him…’
Getting a flabbergasted expression from both Jigyasa and Purva, Nachiket got even more flustered and blurted out sheepishly, ‘She couldn’t take her eyes off Dada at La Rochelle…and well…Dada is single after all…I thought they would make a good match…’
‘Oh! For goodness’s sake, Nachiket! Jai does not need your help to get him a woman!’ Jigyasa said in a disdainful tone.
‘And Meera? I can’t stand the sight of her! God knows why Mummy has put her after me!’ complained Purva, adding unhappily, ‘Nachiket, Bani is my friend also…you have put me in a tight spot! Knowing Meera, there is no way in hell that she won’t try to boss over the team at Delhi…particularly Bani, now that she knows we are friends!’
Taking pity on Nachiket, Jigyasa played the arbitrator and spoke soothingly, ‘Purva, don’t worry about Bani or my team…they are all professionals…we are more than used to handle every types! And Nachiket…I don’t know if you have noticed or not, but Jai is not the same man he used to be!’
‘A few years back, with the level of lewd attention that Meera was showering on Jai at La Rochelle, they would have landed in the back seat of his Mercedes doing unmentionables by the end of that evening…’
Purva looked thoroughly scandalized at Jigyasa’s statement while Nachiket went hysterical with laughter, as she continued in a more sympathetic vein, ‘But he has changed so much over the last three to four years…after the Cancer experience…I don’t think he even noticed Meera that night…I doubt he has noticed any woman lately! God knows what’s up with him!’
‘That’s why it worries me! Dada has changed so much…and I have a feeling it has nothing to do with his battling Cancer…though I can’t be sure, because I wasn’t around with him at that time. But there is something else…he looks increasingly preoccupied and lost…did you notice how he kept checking his phone that evening, even though no one called?’ spoke Nachiket.
Jigyasa too wondered about her friend and then shrugging her head, spoke sanguinely, ‘He must have a thousand things in his head…work related in all probability! Anyway…now let’s come back to the wedding…btw, why the hell isn’t Jai’s name on the invite?’
Nachiket chuckled and replied back, ‘Dada issued a strict order that he didn’t want his name popping up in the card or anywhere as much as it was possible…you know because he is currently heading that controversial Coal Scam Murder case…a couple of Union ministers are involved…he wants his connection with our wedding to be kept at the bare minimum, so that he receives no unwanted publicity in the media while the case is still going on.’
‘Jai thinks way too much! Typical lawyer…doesn’t have a bone of impulse in his body!’ cackled Jigyasa, just as Meera joined them again and they went on to finalize other details for the wedding.
A few days later
‘Finished with your packing?’ asked Rano, as she helped Bani put away her small suitcase underneath the bed.
‘Yes… I hope so!’
‘What fun, isn’t it? Organizing weddings? Especially those of rich people, who have no budgets!’ sighed Rano, making Bani and Pushkar laugh.
‘That’s not true, Rano…every wedding has a budget…some more, some less…but trust me, everyone works on a budget! And believe me if you can…organizing wedding is anything but fun!’ smiled Bani.
‘The Raheja’s are stinking rich, aren’t they? You never told me that you knew Purva Raheja!’ protested Rano.
‘I didn’t know which family she belonged to…besides, how does it even matter! She is a really nice girl and Nachiket is a really nice guy too! Touchwood…they are made for each other!’
‘What’s his background? Which rich father’s son is he?’ asked Rano with animated inquisitiveness.
Bani seemed hesitant to speak in front of Pushkar, but she answered anyway, ‘I don’t know…his surname is Walia…but Jigyasa Mam was telling us that he too belongs to a very high-profile family…’
Pushkar raised his eyebrows and giving a look at Bani asked her, ‘Walia as in related to Jai Walia, the lawyer?’
Bani blushed crimson…she had still not given him a clarification for her strange behaviour a few weeks back when she had been so desperate to attend the seminar that Jai had conducted.
‘I don’t know…I don’t think so! His name would have cropped up in somewhere if that was the case. I think this is some other Walia.’ Answered Bani conversationally, trying to avoid looking at Pushkar.
Changing the topic, Bani quickly asked him, ‘So where will you be staying in Delhi? I can’t believe the coincidence…we are both travelling to Delhi at the same time, though for different purposes!’
‘I know…this field research thing just came up last minute at our college! I will stay at my Bua’s place…you must remember meeting her in Mukteshwar. Gita Bua! She lives in Sarojini Nagar…that’s not very far from the place you guys will be staying. In fact, my work should be over by five in the evening…and I am hoping that you also won’t be working till 10 at night on the wedding thing…so why don’t we get together every evening…and I can show you around Delhi?’
Bani beamed back at Pushkar and said, ‘Sounds great! I would love that…maybe we can take Pia and Ashwinji with us also!’
Pushkar did not look at all keen about the idea, but nodded his head for conventionalism sake and before bidding goodbye, said to her, ‘See you tomorrow morning then! Sleep tight…we have an early morning flight to catch!’
Just before leaving, Pushkar turned to look at Bani who was arranging her work files and spoke cryptically, ‘Seems a bit of a coincidence isn’t it? The whole Nachiket Walia and Purva Raheja wedding…’
‘Huh?’
‘If I were you, I would have enquired a bit more into Nachiket Walia’s background…I won’t be surprised if indeed Jai Walia turns out to be his older brother!’
And chortling at the flabbergasted expression on Bani’s face, he added before closing the door of her room, ‘And even if that is the case, look at the bright side! At least you will have a higher chance of spotting him at his own house, even if you missed him at the seminar!’
“Life takes us by
surprise and orders us to move toward the unknown - even when we don't want to
and when we think we don't need to.”
― Paulo Coelho, By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept
Part 8
Delhi
Pushkar along with Bani and her team from Jigyasa’s office landed Delhi at around nine in the morning. Pushkar took a cab and straight away went to the place where he had to start his field research work, bidding farewell to Bani and fixing a time for the evening when they would meet up for dinner somewhere outside. Pushkar had visited Delhi many times and was very familiar with it, for Bani it was only her second visit and she looked enthusiastic, mainly because she was heading a team for the first time and wanted to give her best shot. Besides, it was Purva’s wedding and it was all the more important that she put in her best foot forward.
While her colleagues, Pooja and Saurabh caught a cab to go to the Farmhouse, Bani considerately asked Meera if she would like to join them, but was snootily refused, saying that she had booked a private car for herself.
Though Bani wanted to stay back till Meera’s car came, her colleague Pooja forcibly dragged her into their cab saying, ‘why do you have to be concerned about that woman, Bani? She did not even acknowledge our presence for the entire flight…sitting prettily in business class and acting like we were some castaways! Come on now…I am dying to see the venue…and then you have to tell us how to go about setting everything!’
‘Not me…we, Pooja! It’s a team effort…and I won’t be telling you anything…the three of us will share our ideas like we always do!’ answered Bani, evoking a warm smile from both Saurabh and Pooja.
‘You are the best boss we have ever had, Bani!’ teased Saurabh even as she protested on being treated as anything but their equal.
They reached Chattarpur an hour later and Pooja could barely stop yelping with excitement, when the cab stopped in front of the gigantic wrought iron gate of the Farmhouse.
‘I always heard that Delhi Farmhouses were a sight to see…but wow…look at the size of the place!!! I can’t’ imagine how gorgeous it’s going to be from the inside! Aren’t we lucky that we are staying here? Must say, it’s very, very generous of Mr. Walia and Ms. Raheja to allow us to stay here…else, we always end up in seedy hotels or the spare rooms of banquet halls in the other weddings we organize!’ spoke Saurabh, taking out the luggage from the car along with Bani and Pooja.
‘I think it’s the other Mr. Walia whom we should be thankful to! The senior one! Apparently, he is the one who allowed us to stay here…he is friends with Jigyasa Mam!’ informed the gossipy Pooja.
The beefy looking guard at the entrance came out of his glass booth and enquired sternly about their identities. Bani took the lead, since amongst the three of them; she was the only one fluent in hindi and spoke in her respectful yet uncertain voice, ‘We have come from Event and Wedding Planners, Bangalore…Jigyasa Bali’s office for the wedding arrangements. Has anyone informed about us?’
The guard seem to be jumbled for a couple of seconds and then nodded his head eagerly and exclaimed, ‘For Chote Sahib’s wedding? Yes…Yes…Bade Sahib’s PA Madam had informed us yesterday. Please come in…please come in.’
The guard called a couple of helpers from inside the farmhouse and opened the gates, leading the trio inside. While Saurabh and Pooja seemed to be thrilled out of their lives on seeing the beauty and grandeur of the farmhouse, Bani suddenly had a whole different sort of feeling. The place looked uncannily familiar…not in the way that she had visited before…but rather like she had heard about it in detail from someone and despite setting her eyes on it for the first time in her life, everything looked and felt familiar. Too familiar.
The curving, chafed path leading from the front gates to the mansion, built fabulously out of pebbled stone, wood and glass. A succession of at least half a dozen luxury cars, starting from an antique silver grey Bentley to a flaming red Ferrari stood precisely in line, evoking some loud gushes from Saurabh. The entire path was lined with green, leafy deciduous trees, suited to Delhi’s extreme climatic weather and Bani with her lifetime of experience living amongst the lap of nature could name every tree that was planted, right from the majestic Ashwagandha to the fragrant Frangipani with its sweet smelling white and yellow flowers.
‘What a beautiful garden…’ whispered Bani, almost to herself, looking enthralled at the herbaceous border of summer berry flowers interspersed with bushes of stunningly beautiful English roses in every hue and colour. The house itself, she could make out was half covered by the Trellis climber, giving it the appearance of a particularly enchanted forest house.
‘Garden? You are noticing the garden when I can barely take my eyes off the Cars and just look at that house! MY GOD!’ squealed Pooja, holding Bani’s hands and acting nothing as professional as Jigyasa had smugly declared them to be.
One of the aides who was carrying the luggage, heard Bani’s endorsement of the garden and chimed in helpfully, ‘Our Bade Sahib is very fond of trees and plants…he gets all these foreign cuttings from time to time and takes a lot of interest in gardening.’
Bani smiled absently at the helper, while walking slowly, taking in the beauty of the place and trying to recollect where she had seen it before? Why did it look so familiar? Where had she seen or rather heard about this huge Brahmi tree, right in the middle of the Bonsai landscaped garden before? Or heard someone’s effusive praise of the glorious beauty of bright carnations in bloom? Someone had told her about this place…it was just alarmingly familiar.
All of a sudden, she turned to the helper and blurted out, ‘Do you still have Koi fish in the backyard pond?’
Not suspecting anything amiss, the helper smiled happily and answered back, ‘Of course Madamji! They are Bade Sahib’s favourite…in fact if the pond is not cleaned when he visits the Farmhouse, some rage he flies into.’
Bani felt her breathe lodge in the base of her throat…how in the name of heaven did she guess that not only was there a pond in the Farmhouse, that she had never visited before, but there were fish in it too…and not any fish…but a particular variety, called the Koi Fish, which was Japanese for Carp.
Now who had told her that Koi was Japanese for Carp? No one in her vicinity had ever told her things…fascinating things particularly. Things that were new to her…things that captivated her like a little child…things that she loved to listen to for hours and hours.
Jai.
Oh. My. God.
So her intuition was correct after all. And Pushkar’s joke about Nachiket Walia’s elder brother being none other than Jai Walia was spot on!
So that is why the house had felt so familiar the moment she had stepped in. Because she had heard about it from none other than Jai himself. Heard about it in minute detail, describing the colour of the gravel that was laid out for the path…the gazebo made of marble which he had got imported from somewhere in Italy…the trees that his late mother had planted and had been lovingly tended by him…the antique Silver Bentley that had belonged to his father and had been a gift to him on his 18th birthday. The house made of stones, wood and glass that Jai had described to her as his own private haven…where he came every weekend to escape the madness of his busy life.
It took Pooja’s vigorous shaking for Bani to come back to her senses and mutter, ‘Huh?’
‘Where are you lost? Come, let’s go inside…I am dying of hunger! Hey Bani…what on earth are we ever going to do here? How can anyone further beautify such a gorgeous place? I think Jigyasa Mam got a bit over-confident regarding our abilities! I am scared of even touching anything here…everything looks perfect!’
Saurabh agreed, still looking wistfully back at the Cars, ‘Senior Mr. Walia must really love his younger brother for having allowed to conduct a wedding in this place…I mean, it’s so beautifully tended and well-kept…I am shuddering to think of putting up a canopy and fairy lights here and spoiling its beauty! What to do? It’s our job!’
Pooja teased her colleague saying, ‘Bani…now you will have to come up with some really, really good ideas for the wedding decoration…something which does not jar with the beauty of the place…and drives the senior Mr. W into one of his flying rages, as the helper just described!’
Bani was absolutely quiet as they walked inside the cool interiors of the Farmhouse, which evoked another round of audible exhalations and sighs from both Saurabh and Pooja. If the outside of the house was mesmerizing with its amalgamation of strategic landscape and natural greenery, then the inside was a stunning mixture of understated wealth, class and sophistication.
The main hall was airy and expansive with glass walls surrounding it on all sides, leather couches and antique wooden furniture were kept in precisely the right positions, expensive indoor plants were set aside in every nook and corner, soft pile carpets in muted colours lay on the moiré flooring and there were innumerable bric-a-bracs and curios throughout the room, reflecting an owner who not only travelled extensively but also collected passionately.
Without thinking, Bani turned to the helper and asked, ‘Where is the brass elephant gone? The one from Jaipur? It is kept in that corner near the money plant, right?’
‘Oh, that one? It was rusting, so Bade Sahib had it sent to the workshop for cleaning and polishing…it will come in a weeks’ time.’ And then almost immediately turned to look at Bani in complete astonishment and ask, ‘How did you know about the brass Elephant, Madamji? Have you come here before?’
Bani realized her mistake too late but was spared an explanation when everyone’s attention turned to Meera’s high-pitched, complaining voice.
‘That damn Car…made me wait for half an hour…and then got me stuck in traffic for another half an hour…god, I am exhausted!’
‘That is why we offered you to drive with us in our cab…but you refused!’ commented Saurabh, chuckling quietly alongside Pooja.
Meera gave a withering look at the duo and then noticing Bani’s strange, lost expression as she went on staring at the interior of the house, recollecting every detail that Jai had lovingly described to her…about his dream-house and commented slyly, ‘Seen nothing like this before, have you, Ms. Dixit? I can’t imagine what kind of decoration you will do here! Just remember that this is not one of your middle-class, pomp and bling, galli-chapp wedding show…’
Before Saurabh and Pooja could react to Meera insulting Bani, she added further, ‘Its Jai Walia’s house…so you better watch out what you will be doing here.’
Not that Bani had any doubts about the identity of the owner of the house by now, but hearing Meera take his name seemed to have sealed the deal altogether.
She had to get out of here as soon as possible. It was one thing trying to sneak into a crowded auditorium and have a peek at him, but quite another to stay in his very own house for fifteen days and end up coming face to face with him anytime.
Suddenly she felt very faint…what on earth was she going to do? What possible explanation could she give to Jigyasa for bailing out at the last time? What about disappointing Purva by backing out from the wedding preparations? What about abandoning her colleagues to handle everything on their own? No…she could never do that. But Jai? Was there any chance that he might not notice her presence? Possibly. Didn’t Nachiket mention something about his brother only coming to the Farmhouse on weekends? And considering how much he disliked strangers milling around, it was unlikely that Jai was going to come here till Bani and her team were stationed for the wedding. Maybe she was just over-reacting. So what if she had landed in Jai’s house? It was just a coincidence! Or was it? In any case, she had her duty to do and she could not back out at the last moment. Hoping that luck would favour her, she decided that in all probability she and Jai would never come face to face, until the actual wedding…by then, she would have formulated some kind of action plan to vanish from here.
Turning to look at Abdul, the friendly domestic aide, she asked nervously, ‘Abdul Bhaiyya, does…does your Bade Sahib come here very frequently?’
Abdul, who had just been pushed around by Meera, felt particularly charitable and friendly towards the simple and down-to-earth Bani and happily supplied her with an answer, ‘No Madamji…infact, now he hardly comes here. Very busy with his work. You must know he is a very big lawyer. Always very busy with work. Earlier he used to come here much often, but for the last few years, he just comes once every month…to check his garden and his beloved fishes.’
Bani heaved a sigh of relief and pushing her hair back nervously, asked him, ‘I think we should just rest for sometime…our flight was very early in the morning…we hardly got any sleep. Could you please let us know where we will be staying?’
Pooja and Saurabh who had been at the receiving end of Meera’s barbs, came rushing towards her, as Abdul answered back helpfully, ‘Everything is arranged, Madamji. Your bedrooms are in the right wing of the farmhouse…Bade Sahib’s PA Madam instructed us to give all of you three separate bedrooms…please come, I will show you.’
‘Hey you…take them to their bedrooms later on. First help me put my luggage in Jai’s bedroom!’ called out Meera, tossing her glossy mane and evoking a snarl from Pooja and Saurabh.
Abdul blinked his eyes and said in a shocked voice, ‘Whose bedroom?’
Giving a look of utter contempt, Meera repeated in a lazy voice, ‘Jai’s bedroom. Your Bade Sahib’s bedroom.’ And then mistaking the expression on Abdul’s face, added haughtily, ‘You don’t expect me to stay in the same type of rooms as these, right? I am sure Jai wouldn’t like it one bit!’
Abdul just kept staring at Meera in stupefaction and then answered back in his well-bred but firm tones, ‘Aisa hai Madamji…no one and I mean, NO ONE is allowed into Bade Sahib’s bedroom. It’s his standing orders to all of us here. Not even Chote Sahib is allowed to enter his bedroom without his permission. So please, either choose any bedroom in the right wing side of the house or I will ask Bade Sahib’s PA Madam to book a good hotel for you. The choice is yours.’
Saurabh and Pooja choked with laughter, even as Meera stood with her mouth open in shock at Abdul’s cool comeback, while Bani seemed too distracted and lost in her own world to react to anything around her.
Meera ended up taking the fanciest looking room, even before Abdul could have shown it to the others, but Bani negated all protest and said that they would be willing to put up anywhere. The last thing Bani wanted was any sort of problem or controversy that would reach Jai’s ears, in turn leading him to come here. She was more than willing to stay in the garage if it meant keeping out of Jai’s notice. Saurabh and Pooja went into their respective room, exclaiming with joy at the Laura Ashley wall-papers, the embedded lighting, the 5-star hotel type thick mattress beds and the latest entertainment systems fitted in the room.
Abdul looked at Bani standing like a nervous wreck and feeling pity for her, said, ‘Madamji, why are you still outside? You can take that room in the far end…the other Madamji thought that she has the best room, but she is wrong. After Bade Sahib's bedroom, this one is the best.’
Over-ruling all of Bani’s protests on giving her only the most ordinary of all the rooms, Abdul led her inside a beautiful bedroom, which was exactly the same as the others, except that it had a huge picture window. But when Bani walked towards it, she could see the Koi Carp Pond right below in the backyard garden. Jai’s beloved fishes were swimming in colourful abandon, evoking a smile from her, as she was reminded of Jai’s repulsion at eating Fish, even though he happily consumed every other meat based item.
‘This is the only room in the house which overlooks the Koi Fish Pond, along with Bade Sahib’s bedroom…’ remarked Abdul, placing the luggage and adding happily, ‘Madamji, if you and your colleagues need anything, please feel free to let me know.’
Bani gave him a warm smile and thanked him for all his help and just before he was about to leave, she asked him to stop for a minute. Assuming that she was going to tip him, Abdul blurted out in a slightly hurt and alarmed voice, ‘Nahin Madamji! Please don’t give me any money! Bade Sahib pays us very well…and he will be furious if he comes to know of this. I just refused the other Madamji…Meera Madam, when she gave me hundred rupees. She was very angry at me.’
Bani could not help smile at his reaction and spoke kindly, ‘I am not giving you money, Abdul Chacha. Here…this is a speciality of Bangalore. I got a couple of boxes for my sister and some other relatives. You helped the three of us so much, I have to give you something, isn’t it?’
Abdul looked stupefied when Bani handed him a box of Mysore Pak, a typical South-indian sweet and when she said, ‘I am sure your Bade Sahib won’t mind my giving you a box of sweets, is it?’ he could not help but grin widely.
Feeling overwhelmed at the respect and warmth shown by Bani, he exclaimed with emotion, ‘Oh! I love sweets! Especially this one! Bade Sahib always gets boxes and boxes of this sweet whenever he goes to visit Chote Sahib! Thank you Madamji…you are really very nice.’
A few hours later
Bani, Saurabh and Pooja met downstairs in a little corner near the entrance hall, after having rested for a couple of hours. Abdul had dolefully informed them that the cook was currently at Bade Sahib’s Gurgaon apartment and hence there was no readily available meal except some very unappetizing looking Muesli which was apparently Bade Sahib’s only preferred choice of breakfast. But thankfully, Bani had packed some Aloo Parantha’s and Mango pickle and Abdul had heated it up for the three of them for breakfast along with some terrible tea, which he had made.
Ostensibly, Abdul had no idea about cooking anything properly, since his main job was that of taking care of the Farmhouse. Besides, Jai had a personal cook who came to the Farmhouse alongside him to do all the cooking.
Bani could barely concentrate on what they were going to do for the wedding, nervously checking out the entrance of the room after every ten seconds, fearing that Jai would come in anytime. Noticing her lack of coordination and distraction, Pooja offered up, ‘Bani, you look exhausted. You have been working on four consecutive events for the last one month and now this big one. Say, there is still some time left before we update Jigyasa Mam. Why don’t you just go back to your room and take some rest. We can always began afresh in the evening or even tomorrow.’
Saurabh agreed and insisted on Bani leaving the work and just taking some rest, but Bani refused saying, ‘No, No. That won’t be right. Besides, I cannot sleep easily in unaccustomed surroundings. I will just do something else to get back my concentration and then we can have a reconnaissance of the house and come up with a blue-print for the preparations and arrangements for the upcoming functions. We need to get them ready by end of day today, and fax it to Bangalore Office.’
‘Madamji, what would you like to have for lunch? Can I order something from outside? Pijja?’ asked Abdul, making Saurabh and Pooja grin at his pronunciation. And then added with an apologetic expression, ‘Bade Sahib has not been coming over the Farmhouse for a long time, so our Ration supplies are not very updated…but you give me a list of what you like to eat and I will get it for you.’
‘Are you crazy? They are not guests here! They are workers…just like you! Why the hell would you spend your master’s money and get food for them from outside? They will manage on their own!’ came Meera’s whiplash voice.
Saurabh and Pooja went red with humiliation as Abdul gave a frustrated sigh and answered back in a civil tone, ‘Madamji…whatever they might be, at the moment, they are Bade Sahib’s guests…and he expects and pays me to take care of his guests in whatever way possible.’
‘You talk too much! I will have to put in a word to Jai!’ snapped Meera and then added, ‘They can manage their lunch on their own. Prepare a Cesar Salad for lunch along with a clear soup for me.’
Pooja was about to comment something, but kept quiet on seeing Bani’s expression telling them to keep calm and not react. Abdul gave a tight smile and said sweetly, ‘Aisa hai Madamji, if I make this Salad and soup for you, you might end up with food poisoning, since I cannot cook at all. So you can either risk getting poisoned or you can just take a cab down to the nearest market and eat whatever that pleases you. The choice is yours.’
Saurabh and Pooja doubled with laughter and despite her best intention, Bani could not help but smile at Abdul’s cheekiness and had to turn away her face in order to avoid looking at Meera’s expression on being put down by him again.
Muttering something under her breath, Meera picked up her designer Birkin Bag and walked away; tossing her hair and issuing threats to Abdul about complaining to Jai, but the man remained unfazed.
‘Abdul Chacha, I know that Meera Madam is being very rude, but still…you should not answer her back like that. She is your Bade Sahib’s guest…you might be in trouble if she complains to him.’ Said Bani, evoking a grin from him.
‘Our Bade Sahibji is a very fair man, Madamji. And he is not one to listen to other people…he forms his own opinions. I don’t mean to insult her, but she is being very unreasonable, not to say that she is insulting you people without any reason. You too, are Bade Sahib’s guests.’
Bani replied back soberly, ‘Not really…we are workers here, just like you.’ And then changing the topic, she asked him, ‘Is there any rice and dal in the kitchen?’
‘Why, yes, Madamji. Rice and Dal is always in stock…comes from Bade Sahib’s farm in Ganganagar.’
Bani turned to look at Saurabh and Pooja and asked them with a bright smile, ‘Would you guys like to eat a simple Kichdi for lunch? I am not really the biggest fan of Pizza here…and besides, Meera was correct. Doesn’t look nice to go about ordering food on the client’s expense, however generous they might be.’
‘We would love to, Bani! Ooh…I love Kichdi!’ exclaimed Pooja.
‘Abdul Bhaiyya, is it okay, if I use the kitchen for cooking? I promise not to break or spoil anything. And I will wash away everything later on; you don’t have to worry about any extra work.’
Abdul grinned and remarked, ‘What are you saying Madamji! Of course, you can use the kitchen…and please don’t bother about washing up anything. My wife does the cleaning, she will manage. And are you sure, you don’t want me to order food?’
‘Absolutely sure! You haven’t tasted Bani’s food…no one would prefer a Pizza to her Kichdi, believe me!’ remarked Saurabh, making Bani flush with embarrassment on being praised so much.
Later in the evening
The lunch had been a huge success and as always cooking had put Bani in a great mood and elevated her from the cloud of panic and apprehension that she had been undergoing since landing here in the morning. Knowing her luck, it was very much probable, that despite living in Jai’s very own house and being part of his own brother’s wedding, she would probably not even get to see him. If she had not heard a word from him in the last four years and missed him narrowly in Bangalore, anything was possible. Her fears about being spotted by Jai were most unlikely and farfetched.
He did not even come to the Farmhouse frequently and now that he knew that Jigyasa’s team was stationed, it was even more unlikely that he would land up here, amongst strangers.
Bani, Saurabh and Pooja had sat for the entire afternoon and a good part of the evening, doing a recce of the house and charting out the arrangements and décor. Bani had called up Jigyasa and updated her on everything and had been told to take it easy and not rush anything, since there was still enough time.
‘And for goodness sake, don’t stay cooped up inside the venue, working on the plans from dawn to dusk! You are still my employee, even while stationed in Delhi…so no work after 6 in the evening. Go out with Saurabh and Pooja…and enjoy your evenings. Okay?’ ordered Jigyasa, authoritative but caring voice over the phone.
Bani looked at her watch and spoke hesitantly to both of her colleagues, ‘Saurabh…Pooja, do you mind if I take some time off now? Pushkar is coming to pick me up. I wanted to see my sister…she is leaving for Vaishno Devi tomorrow with her family…and then we would also get busy with our work…so I was wondering if…’
Cutting short her rambling, Saurabh spoke with a smile, ‘Bani! You don’t have to give us explanations, for god sake! And look at you…you not only finished all the preliminary work on the arrangements, but even got an approval…wrapped up two days’ work in just a couple of hours!’
‘While Saurabh here was busy admiring Mr. Walia’s collection of vintage cars instead of helping us out!’ chirped Pooja.
‘Yes…and you were working right? What were you doing in the garden, twirling around in the Gazebo and I even saw you trying to pick a rose from the garden! Didn’t you hear Abdul say that Mr. Walia Senior is fanatical about his garden? Do you want to land us in trouble?’ came back Saurabh.
Bani called peace before the two could continue their argument and asked again, ‘So can I go for a couple of hours? I have taken permission from Jigyasa Mam.’
‘Oh! Come on Bani! Of course, you can go! I have got a couple of DVD’s along with me…Saurabh and I will spend our evening watching You got mail!’ announced Pooja, making Saurabh wince with disgust and Bani laugh.
‘Thank you both so much! Pushkar will be here anytime to pick me up…I should be back only by ten or so at night…my sister lives quite far from here.’
‘Don’t worry…you go and see your sister and enjoy your time off. And just be careful, Delhi isn’t exactly a safe place for young women to go wandering about at night.’ Warned Saurabh in a caring voice.
‘Pushkar will drop me back! I won’t get too late anyway. Bye then! Have a great evening.’
Bidding goodbye to both her colleagues, Bani went out when she heard Pushkar honking his bike, which he had borrowed from his cousin.
Later that evening
Meera had come back after her extended lunch time which included a whole lot of shopping as evidenced by the number of bags she brought back.
Saurabh and Pooja had finished watching their movie and were sitting in the porch, playing cards and deciding on what to order for food, since Bani wasn’t around and none of them could cook to save their lives.
Ignoring them pointedly, Meera breezed inside the house, calling out for Abdul to deliver the parcels to her room and fix her a drink.
Pooja snickered and remarked, ‘I can bet Abdul will mix something undesirable in the drink and give it to that witch!’
Saurabh laughed and replied back, ‘Just imagine! She came here stating that she wanted to overlook our work and Madam vanished from lunch time! Does she have any idea of what sort of work we do?’
‘I have my doubts, Saurabh! It’s a pity, Bani is not as sharp with her tongue as she is talented with her work, else she could have shown that Meera her right place!’
‘Well, we have dear Abdul for that!’ came back Saurabh, making Pooja splutter with laughter.
They were planning to have another round of Rummy, when they heard the front entrance gates creaking open and Abdul coming out running, with an air of importance.
‘What happened Abdul? Whose Car is that?’ asked Pooja, standing up and looking at the powerful Land Rover driving in through the gates.
‘Bade Sahib!’ blurted out Abdul, in half panic and bewilderment.
Saurabh and Pooja looked flustered and shocked, without any reason to do so and said to him, ‘But you said that Mr. Walia never comes here on weekdays! How come…’
‘I don’t know Madamji. His driver…Kailash just called up to say that he was coming! Okay…I have to rush now.’ And saying that he went running towards the main gate.
Saurabh and Pooja did not know what to do, especially with Bani not around and they just picked up the stack of cards and rushed inside, only to be met by Meera.
‘What happened? Why do you look so white-faced?’ she snapped.
‘Bade Sahib…I mean, Mr. Walia has come! So unexpected!’ blurted out Saurabh, evoking first an expression of shock and then a smug smile from Meera.
‘What is so unexpected? Its his house! Besides, I am sure he knew that I was coming too…so clearly he came to meet me!’ she announced, sweeping past them and looking out eagerly. This was going good…only a few hours earlier, she was regretting having coming to Delhi to help with the wedding, realizing that (a) Jai hardly ever visited the Farmhouse and (b) she had no idea regarding the arrangements required in a wedding nor had any interest in running around for it, especially not for Purva, whom she detested.
She had only jumped at Nachiket’s offer in order to get close with Jai, who had fascinated her in their very first meeting. And after having seen the kind of wealth he possessed, Meera had been certain that she had finally met a man whom she wanted to marry.
Jai walked in looking harassed and irritated, his stark white shirt creased, sleeves rolled one fourth up, revealing strong, tanned arms, on which he was wearing a collector’s edition of Patek Philip, a small gift from a grateful client, whom Jai had saved from a lifetime of rotting in jail.
He was speaking on the phone, sounding aggravated an annoyed over something and his very persona seemed to intimidate both Saurahb and Pooja, who tried to blend in the background and appear as invisible as possible.
‘I don’t bloody get it! When I say that I want certain things in certain order, why can’t they be done? How long has Shanbagh been working with me? 3 yeas? If she can’t learn even this much till now, I doubt she will survive in the long run! No…Adi…I am not over-reacting…I am just furious…I don’t like rushing here and there at the end of the day, looking out for important papers when they should have been filed and completed by now. This is so damn frustrating!’
Jai kept quiet, apparently listening to the other side of the conversation, while Meera waited eagerly for him to see her and Saurabh and Pooja tried to find a way to sneak out quietly.
‘Well, whatever! They will most probably be in my room…but this is not the way things work in my office. And I DO NOT like the paralegals bossing over my personal staff for mistakes that they have committed. Shanbagh had no business shouting on Sheryl…who in my opinion is hundred times more efficient than Shanbagh can ever hope to be! Okay…now I am disconnecting the phone…I have to look for that bloody document! No…I cannot attend the party tonight, Adi! I had to drive all the way up here from work to search for that document…I am staying put here for the night! Am totally exhausted and fed-up! Bye!’ saying that Jai banged shut his IPhone, muttering something under his lips and shouting out for Abdul.
‘Abdul…here are the keys to my room. Just open it and please fix me a drink. My head is splitting with pain!’ remarked Jai, as he noticed Meera, standing next to him, with a drink in her hand.
‘What luck…here is your drink!’ and saying that, she hugged Jai and remarked, ‘how nice seeing you again, Jai!’
Giving her a bewildered look, Jai spoke in a flabbergasted voice, ‘Who in the blinkers are you?’
Saurabh and Meera who had just found a way to sneak out of the room, heard Jai’s comment and could not help but burst into laughter on seeing Jai’s reaction to Meera and her subsequent expression on being questioned about her identity by Jai.
Going crimson with embarrassment, Meera tried to salvage her pride and spoke with fake cheerfulness, ‘Oh, come on Jai! Meera!’
Still getting a completely blank response from Jai, she flustered and added hastily, ‘Purva’s cousin…Meera Raheja. We met at La Rochelle a couple of weeks back, remember?’
As recognition dawned on Jai, he gave a sort of preoccupied smile and said apologetically, ‘Oh…Oh…I got it! I am sorry…I have just had a terrible day…I simply couldn’t’ place you! Oh…how nice to see you again, Ms. Raheja!’
‘Call me Meera!’ she smiled handing him her drink and rudely signalling Abdul to fix another one for her.
Still looking perplexed and disinterested, Jai muttered, ‘Uh…okay, Meera. Nice to see you….’ Even though he couldn’t imagine what she was doing here.
Then his eyes fell on the young duo of Saurabh and Pooja and looking even more bewildered, he said, ‘Are these two also with you? I don’t remember seeing them at La Rochelle!’
Saurabh and Pooja, highly intimidated by Jai’s stature kept staring mutely, while Meera did not offer an explanation, thrilled to have seen the two of them in a spot and wondering if Jai would give them a sound verbal lashing, mistaking them for strangers.
‘Sahibji…Sirji and Madamji have come this morning…for Chote Sahib’s wedding…from Jigyasa Madamji’s office.’ Explained Abdul, giving a reassured smile at the nervous duo.
‘Oh! Oh! I just remembered. Yes…Yes…Chote had told me that you guys would be coming. Okay…Okay…and Meera, you too! Thanks for the kind offer to help out with the arrangements…I hope you find everything comfortable here.’ Jai remarked in general to everyone, but Meera took it for herself.
‘The house is beautiful, Jai! Who was the architect and designer? I will tell Daddy to use the same guy for our upcoming farmhouse near Hosur!’
Jai looked thoroughly disinterested in Meera’s chit-chat, but realizing that she was Purva’s cousin, maintained a polite expression, even though he felt irritated by the familiarity she was displaying with him.
Feeling a bit sorry for the two mousy looking youngsters, Jai smiled at them and asked kindly, ‘Did you guys find everything okay here? Your rooms ect?’
Overwhelmed by his geniality, despite the fact that he was such a prominent man, Saurabh and Pooja nodded eagerly and said, ‘Everything is great, Sir. Thank you so much.’
‘You can tell Abdul if you need anything….’ Jai spoke, walking up towards his room and looking annoyed with Meera for following him without any reason to do so.
‘Yes Sir. He has been very helpful, thank you for asking.’ Replied Pooja.
Turning to look back at Meera, he remarked in a polite yet stark voice, ‘Meera, if you would excuse me. I have a couple of important documents to check in my room…why you don’t wait here with these two… I will be back in a couple of minutes.’
Saying that, Jai did not give a chance for Meera to react, instead simply climbing the stairs and walked into his room, shutting it decisively from inside. Despite their nervousness, Saurabh and Pooja could barely control their glee on seeing Jai effectively deal with Meera, much to her dismay.
A while later
Jai came down, after having taken a bath and shaved, looking casual yet dashing in a pair of jeans and a white linen half-sleeve shirt. His wet hair tousled into curls at the nape of his neck and he smelled seductively of cologne.
Making some civil, impersonal talk with Saurabh and Pooja and trying his best to be courteous to Meera, who was infuriating the very life out of him.
‘Sir, would you like to have a look at the plans we have made for the functions? Our colleagues charted them up today…Jigyasa Mam has given her approval, but do go through it and let us know what you feel?’ asked Pooja, rather respectfully.
Jai looked indifferent and simply shrugged his head, saying, ‘I trust Jiggy…I mean Jigyasa to handle all this…besides, I am sure you know your job better than I do.’
Saurabh and Pooja smiled, wondering what else to say, feeling rather awkward in Jai’s towering presence, when Meera chimed in, ‘Where is that girl gone?’
‘What girl?’ asked Jai, looking perplexed at the thought of so many strangers milling around in his house.
‘The third one…really annoying!’ snorted Meera, evoking a snarl from both Saurabh and Pooja, who adored Bani.
‘She has taken some time off and gone to visit her sister.’ Remarked Pooja, giving a cold look in Meera’s direction.
‘Just look at this Jai! Height of unprofessionalism!’ barked Meera and giving a scornful glance at both of them, snapped, ‘I saw her going on a bike with that guy who came with us in the morning…visiting her sister indeed. Must have gone on a date! Typical of such girls! Jai, you should seriously put in a word to Jigyasa regarding the attitude of her employees.’
Scandalized at the accusation on Bani’s character, both Saurabh and Pooja charged in her defence and spoke vehemently, ‘that’s not true, Sir. She has not gone on any date…she has indeed gone to visit her sister with her friend. And she wrapped off all the work before leaving…got Jigyasa Mam’s permission too…’
‘Complete Lie, I am sure…sneaking off like this when she should have been working…’ came back Meera, evoking another reaction from the duo, till Jai snapped in a low, cold growl, ‘That is enough now!’
Giving a taciturn look at Saurabh and Pooja, Jai spoke in an authoritative voice, ‘if you want to have your cat fights, have it outside of the premises of my house or at least not when I am around. You have come to work here, so I expect you to only do that and nothing else.’
Meera looked elated at the way Jai had put both of them down, only till he turned to face her and spoke in an artic voice, ‘And Meera…I don’t give a damn about who goes out on dates and who doesn’t! They are Jigyasa’s employees and what they do during or after their work hours does not concern me at all…and it should not bother you too. So please don’t try to fill my ears with pointless gossip in which I have categorically no interest.’
Saying that, he got up, rubbing his head; this was now paining badly and called out for Abdul, who came darting along.
‘Abdul, is there something to eat here?’
Abdul blinked his eyes and mumbled, ‘Muejeli, Sahib?’
‘No…not Muesli!’ grumbled Jai and then shrugging his head in desperation, simply snarled, ‘Forget it. I will check out the kitchen myself.’
Turning to look at both Saurabh and Pooja, who were looking pale with terror on seeing Jai’s infamous display of temper, he spoke in a considerate voice, ‘Do you kids like Chinese Food?’
Saurabh nodded his head and Jai gave a short smile and said, ‘I have asked my driver to get some food packed from The China Club. You will love it! It’s my personal favourite too.’
Pooja smiled bashfully and spoke in a low voice, ‘Thank you, Sir. Won’t you be joining us for dinner?’
‘No…I am not in the mood to have outside food today. You guys enjoy it…you too, Meera. I will fix up something for myself in the kitchen.’ Saying that he walked away, leaving Saurabh and Pooja sniggering at Meera, who looked catalytic with anger at having been put down by Jai.
In the Kitchen
Jai went through some of the boxes and looked disdainfully inside the fridge. It was mostly empty except a carton of yoghurt and he took it out, wondering what to eat it with. His eyes fell on a closed lid pan kept on the burner and he opened it to check what was inside.
‘Kichdi?’ remarked Jai with complete surprise and wondered who had cooked it. Abdul could not even prepare a decent cup of tea for him. It looked cold, so he guessed that it must have been made for lunch. Taking a ladle full of the preparation on a plate, he heated it up in the microwave and when the smell hit his nostrils, a sudden nostalgia swept over him.
The aroma of the lentil and rice preparation was so familiar…pouring some yogurt over the kichdi, he took a spoonful into his mouth and almost instantly exclaimed, ‘Bani?’
Abdul came into the kitchen with the purpose of helping his boss, and Jai asked him in a dumbfounded manner, ‘Who cooked this, Abdul?’
‘That other Madamji, Sahib.’ Answered Abdul in a respectful voice.
‘Which other Madam?’ asked Jai, with a sinking feeling at the pit of his stomach.
‘The one who has come for Chote Sahib’s wedding arrangements, with the Sirji and Madamji who are outside.’
Jai was very still…it could not be true. Was Bani the only person in the world who could make this particular dish? But then he instantly realized how foolish he as being. It was one thing whipping up a certain recipe as common as this one…many people could do that. But it was quite another, to leave your personal imprint on it…that was unique to every cook. Bani’s kichdi had a particular taste that had lingered in on Jai’s memory for the last four years…he could have recognized the flavour of her cooking in his sleep. No one could make Kichdi like she did.
Almost mechanically finishing his dish, Jai went out and saw that Meera, Saurabh and Pooja were digging into the lavish Chinese spread that Jai had ordered for them. In a distracted manner, he spoke to them, ‘I hope you like the food…and Meera, I am sorry for losing my cool…I just had an awful day at work and I have not been keeping very well…listen, why don’t I make up for it? We can go for dinner tomorrow evening, what do you say?’
Meera, who had been in the midst of gulping a shrimp dumpling looked elated and nodded her head with joy, much to Saurabh and Pooja’s disgust, who had stopped eating when Jai had walked in.
Realizing that he was probably making them uncomfortable with his presence, Jai said, ‘I am out in the lawns…I have a couple of calls to make…you guys carry on.’
An hour later
Jai had been pacing up and down in the lawns, sipping his scotch and making official calls, but hardly concentrating, since his eyes were set upon the gate. It was close to 10:30 at night and whoever the third person was, hadn’t come back.
Jigyasa’s ditzy assistant who had inexplicably braved torrential downpour to attend his seminar on criminal law, despite not having any background in it. Pia informing him that Bani was now living in Bangalore and was employed somewhere. Everything seemed to add up for Jai. Though he could hardly get himself to believe it. Here he had taken every precaution to avoid her for the last four years, not even calling her up when he was right there in Bangalore and fate had brought her to his very doorsteps!
What could he do if the universe was conspiring to get them back together?
Just then, he heard the noise of the Iron Gate being pushed open slightly and the sound of a male voice laughing and the tinkling of bangles. He stood quietly where he was and saw a female form walking in towards the house. She was tall with a wholesome sort of figure, her hair was left open and she had a pre-occupied look to her. Though it was pretty dark outside, the lights in the lawns being dimmed out by now, Jai could not fail to recognise who she was.
In a way, though she had changed significantly over the last four years, paradoxically she still seemed exactly the girl-next-door from Mukteshwar to him. Slight unsure in her step, a bit low on confidence, as was evident by the way she had wrapped herself up with her arms, her head bent low over her slender neck.
Standing in the shadows of the dimly lit garden, Jai noticed the hint of a cheekbone on her oval shaped faced, her unctuous hair brushing against her forehead, her eyes which had always captivated him, looking conspicuously beautiful because of the hint of kajal in them.
The previously non-existent figure now displayed in lush curves because of the fitted salwar kameez she had worn. She had most definitely lost weight…loads of it, but not in the way that made her anaemically thin…if she had appeared plump and chubby earlier, she looked perfectly fit and curvy now.
And her hair? Jai could not even remember seeing her ever with her hair open in the one year that he had known her and now her luxurious tresses were framing her face with such flawlessness.
Did she look drop dead gorgeous? Jai couldn’t be sure! But now there was an understated elegance and charm about her…something which took his breath away; because he had always teased Bani relentlessly for her general gaucherie and clumsiness that she was forever displaying back in Mukteshwar.
Many women could manage to look beautiful with the right clothes and the correct make-up, but few could appear so easy in their own skin, the way Bani looked now.
Her oxidized silver bangles jingled alluringly when she pushed her silky locks behind her ears and Jai could hardly come to terms with the fact that he felt enormously seduced by her unassuming loveliness and innocence.
Felt seduced by Bani, of all the women in the world! Something was surely going wrong somewhere!
Of course, he was still madly in love with her…but never had he desired her physically, the way he wanted her right now.
Back in Mukteshwar, he had seen her as the sweet, adorable girl who had lovingly guided him back to life and health, with her child-like exuberance and joie de vivre…brushing aside all his fears of being affected by his Cancer for life…cheering him up daily with her presence…ignoring his temper and vile tongue…being a friend to him without expecting anything in return.
He had fallen in love with Bani, the person…with the goodness of her heart, with the kindness of her nature, with her ever cheerful face and sunny disposition. With the kind of superior individual that she was…something which Jai could never be.
Though he had never told her so, Jai had always been in wonder and even awe of Bani…because she was naturally gifted with all those qualities which Jai could not possess even if he had tried for them.
The gift of being compassionate and kind without being patronizing…of being generous and magnanimous without expecting a single thing in return…of being so serene and patient towards everyone’s faults and failings…of being accepting and caring with such self-abnegation…of being so fundamentally good as a human being, that it was almost incredible to Jai, that such people could actually exist in the world.
It seemed the most natural thing in the world to Jai that he had fallen in love with Bani. Who wouldn’t? How could anyone not love someone so good?
But now…bizarre, forbidding emotions filtered his mind…it was one thing being in love with someone, but not being bodily attracted to them…that kind of love could be controlled in some way or the other. Jai had done that, hadn’t he? Managed to stay away from Bani, despite having her on his mind continuously?
Now he felt other passions and an emotion creeping in to his head…this was getting to be perilous.
Being deeply in love with someone…and desiring them physically could only lead to trouble of the kind, that Jai had diligently avoided for the last four years.
She was so preoccupied with her own thoughts, that she almost walked past him, till he stopped her by putting his arm around her waist, and whispered in an amused, husky tone ‘I should have guessed earlier on. The kichdi was a good enough hint.’
Bani seemed to jump out of her skin at the sudden intrusion to her chain of thoughts and looked up in complete amazement, taken aback by the sudden appearance of someone from apparently nowhere.
She stared back at Jai with astonished pair of eyes and could hardly utter a single word or even make a movement.
‘It’s my very own house…you need not look so dumbfounded by my presence, Miss Dixit!’ smiled Jai, finishing his liquor and throwing the crystal glass carelessly on the lawns, waiting for her to react.
‘Jai…’she muttered, still holding that stunned expression and dropping her cloth bag on the ground, fell on his chest in a heap and sobbed, like there was no tomorrow.
The most painful love there
is; is the love left unshown. A love that cannot be expressed, affection left
unknown. The love that withholds touching; afraid of what it would say -
Anonymous― Paulo Coelho, By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept
Part 8
Delhi
Pushkar along with Bani and her team from Jigyasa’s office landed Delhi at around nine in the morning. Pushkar took a cab and straight away went to the place where he had to start his field research work, bidding farewell to Bani and fixing a time for the evening when they would meet up for dinner somewhere outside. Pushkar had visited Delhi many times and was very familiar with it, for Bani it was only her second visit and she looked enthusiastic, mainly because she was heading a team for the first time and wanted to give her best shot. Besides, it was Purva’s wedding and it was all the more important that she put in her best foot forward.
While her colleagues, Pooja and Saurabh caught a cab to go to the Farmhouse, Bani considerately asked Meera if she would like to join them, but was snootily refused, saying that she had booked a private car for herself.
Though Bani wanted to stay back till Meera’s car came, her colleague Pooja forcibly dragged her into their cab saying, ‘why do you have to be concerned about that woman, Bani? She did not even acknowledge our presence for the entire flight…sitting prettily in business class and acting like we were some castaways! Come on now…I am dying to see the venue…and then you have to tell us how to go about setting everything!’
‘Not me…we, Pooja! It’s a team effort…and I won’t be telling you anything…the three of us will share our ideas like we always do!’ answered Bani, evoking a warm smile from both Saurabh and Pooja.
‘You are the best boss we have ever had, Bani!’ teased Saurabh even as she protested on being treated as anything but their equal.
They reached Chattarpur an hour later and Pooja could barely stop yelping with excitement, when the cab stopped in front of the gigantic wrought iron gate of the Farmhouse.
‘I always heard that Delhi Farmhouses were a sight to see…but wow…look at the size of the place!!! I can’t’ imagine how gorgeous it’s going to be from the inside! Aren’t we lucky that we are staying here? Must say, it’s very, very generous of Mr. Walia and Ms. Raheja to allow us to stay here…else, we always end up in seedy hotels or the spare rooms of banquet halls in the other weddings we organize!’ spoke Saurabh, taking out the luggage from the car along with Bani and Pooja.
‘I think it’s the other Mr. Walia whom we should be thankful to! The senior one! Apparently, he is the one who allowed us to stay here…he is friends with Jigyasa Mam!’ informed the gossipy Pooja.
The beefy looking guard at the entrance came out of his glass booth and enquired sternly about their identities. Bani took the lead, since amongst the three of them; she was the only one fluent in hindi and spoke in her respectful yet uncertain voice, ‘We have come from Event and Wedding Planners, Bangalore…Jigyasa Bali’s office for the wedding arrangements. Has anyone informed about us?’
The guard seem to be jumbled for a couple of seconds and then nodded his head eagerly and exclaimed, ‘For Chote Sahib’s wedding? Yes…Yes…Bade Sahib’s PA Madam had informed us yesterday. Please come in…please come in.’
The guard called a couple of helpers from inside the farmhouse and opened the gates, leading the trio inside. While Saurabh and Pooja seemed to be thrilled out of their lives on seeing the beauty and grandeur of the farmhouse, Bani suddenly had a whole different sort of feeling. The place looked uncannily familiar…not in the way that she had visited before…but rather like she had heard about it in detail from someone and despite setting her eyes on it for the first time in her life, everything looked and felt familiar. Too familiar.
The curving, chafed path leading from the front gates to the mansion, built fabulously out of pebbled stone, wood and glass. A succession of at least half a dozen luxury cars, starting from an antique silver grey Bentley to a flaming red Ferrari stood precisely in line, evoking some loud gushes from Saurabh. The entire path was lined with green, leafy deciduous trees, suited to Delhi’s extreme climatic weather and Bani with her lifetime of experience living amongst the lap of nature could name every tree that was planted, right from the majestic Ashwagandha to the fragrant Frangipani with its sweet smelling white and yellow flowers.
‘What a beautiful garden…’ whispered Bani, almost to herself, looking enthralled at the herbaceous border of summer berry flowers interspersed with bushes of stunningly beautiful English roses in every hue and colour. The house itself, she could make out was half covered by the Trellis climber, giving it the appearance of a particularly enchanted forest house.
‘Garden? You are noticing the garden when I can barely take my eyes off the Cars and just look at that house! MY GOD!’ squealed Pooja, holding Bani’s hands and acting nothing as professional as Jigyasa had smugly declared them to be.
One of the aides who was carrying the luggage, heard Bani’s endorsement of the garden and chimed in helpfully, ‘Our Bade Sahib is very fond of trees and plants…he gets all these foreign cuttings from time to time and takes a lot of interest in gardening.’
Bani smiled absently at the helper, while walking slowly, taking in the beauty of the place and trying to recollect where she had seen it before? Why did it look so familiar? Where had she seen or rather heard about this huge Brahmi tree, right in the middle of the Bonsai landscaped garden before? Or heard someone’s effusive praise of the glorious beauty of bright carnations in bloom? Someone had told her about this place…it was just alarmingly familiar.
All of a sudden, she turned to the helper and blurted out, ‘Do you still have Koi fish in the backyard pond?’
Not suspecting anything amiss, the helper smiled happily and answered back, ‘Of course Madamji! They are Bade Sahib’s favourite…in fact if the pond is not cleaned when he visits the Farmhouse, some rage he flies into.’
Bani felt her breathe lodge in the base of her throat…how in the name of heaven did she guess that not only was there a pond in the Farmhouse, that she had never visited before, but there were fish in it too…and not any fish…but a particular variety, called the Koi Fish, which was Japanese for Carp.
Now who had told her that Koi was Japanese for Carp? No one in her vicinity had ever told her things…fascinating things particularly. Things that were new to her…things that captivated her like a little child…things that she loved to listen to for hours and hours.
Jai.
Oh. My. God.
So her intuition was correct after all. And Pushkar’s joke about Nachiket Walia’s elder brother being none other than Jai Walia was spot on!
So that is why the house had felt so familiar the moment she had stepped in. Because she had heard about it from none other than Jai himself. Heard about it in minute detail, describing the colour of the gravel that was laid out for the path…the gazebo made of marble which he had got imported from somewhere in Italy…the trees that his late mother had planted and had been lovingly tended by him…the antique Silver Bentley that had belonged to his father and had been a gift to him on his 18th birthday. The house made of stones, wood and glass that Jai had described to her as his own private haven…where he came every weekend to escape the madness of his busy life.
It took Pooja’s vigorous shaking for Bani to come back to her senses and mutter, ‘Huh?’
‘Where are you lost? Come, let’s go inside…I am dying of hunger! Hey Bani…what on earth are we ever going to do here? How can anyone further beautify such a gorgeous place? I think Jigyasa Mam got a bit over-confident regarding our abilities! I am scared of even touching anything here…everything looks perfect!’
Saurabh agreed, still looking wistfully back at the Cars, ‘Senior Mr. Walia must really love his younger brother for having allowed to conduct a wedding in this place…I mean, it’s so beautifully tended and well-kept…I am shuddering to think of putting up a canopy and fairy lights here and spoiling its beauty! What to do? It’s our job!’
Pooja teased her colleague saying, ‘Bani…now you will have to come up with some really, really good ideas for the wedding decoration…something which does not jar with the beauty of the place…and drives the senior Mr. W into one of his flying rages, as the helper just described!’
Bani was absolutely quiet as they walked inside the cool interiors of the Farmhouse, which evoked another round of audible exhalations and sighs from both Saurabh and Pooja. If the outside of the house was mesmerizing with its amalgamation of strategic landscape and natural greenery, then the inside was a stunning mixture of understated wealth, class and sophistication.
The main hall was airy and expansive with glass walls surrounding it on all sides, leather couches and antique wooden furniture were kept in precisely the right positions, expensive indoor plants were set aside in every nook and corner, soft pile carpets in muted colours lay on the moiré flooring and there were innumerable bric-a-bracs and curios throughout the room, reflecting an owner who not only travelled extensively but also collected passionately.
Without thinking, Bani turned to the helper and asked, ‘Where is the brass elephant gone? The one from Jaipur? It is kept in that corner near the money plant, right?’
‘Oh, that one? It was rusting, so Bade Sahib had it sent to the workshop for cleaning and polishing…it will come in a weeks’ time.’ And then almost immediately turned to look at Bani in complete astonishment and ask, ‘How did you know about the brass Elephant, Madamji? Have you come here before?’
Bani realized her mistake too late but was spared an explanation when everyone’s attention turned to Meera’s high-pitched, complaining voice.
‘That damn Car…made me wait for half an hour…and then got me stuck in traffic for another half an hour…god, I am exhausted!’
‘That is why we offered you to drive with us in our cab…but you refused!’ commented Saurabh, chuckling quietly alongside Pooja.
Meera gave a withering look at the duo and then noticing Bani’s strange, lost expression as she went on staring at the interior of the house, recollecting every detail that Jai had lovingly described to her…about his dream-house and commented slyly, ‘Seen nothing like this before, have you, Ms. Dixit? I can’t imagine what kind of decoration you will do here! Just remember that this is not one of your middle-class, pomp and bling, galli-chapp wedding show…’
Before Saurabh and Pooja could react to Meera insulting Bani, she added further, ‘Its Jai Walia’s house…so you better watch out what you will be doing here.’
Not that Bani had any doubts about the identity of the owner of the house by now, but hearing Meera take his name seemed to have sealed the deal altogether.
She had to get out of here as soon as possible. It was one thing trying to sneak into a crowded auditorium and have a peek at him, but quite another to stay in his very own house for fifteen days and end up coming face to face with him anytime.
Suddenly she felt very faint…what on earth was she going to do? What possible explanation could she give to Jigyasa for bailing out at the last time? What about disappointing Purva by backing out from the wedding preparations? What about abandoning her colleagues to handle everything on their own? No…she could never do that. But Jai? Was there any chance that he might not notice her presence? Possibly. Didn’t Nachiket mention something about his brother only coming to the Farmhouse on weekends? And considering how much he disliked strangers milling around, it was unlikely that Jai was going to come here till Bani and her team were stationed for the wedding. Maybe she was just over-reacting. So what if she had landed in Jai’s house? It was just a coincidence! Or was it? In any case, she had her duty to do and she could not back out at the last moment. Hoping that luck would favour her, she decided that in all probability she and Jai would never come face to face, until the actual wedding…by then, she would have formulated some kind of action plan to vanish from here.
Turning to look at Abdul, the friendly domestic aide, she asked nervously, ‘Abdul Bhaiyya, does…does your Bade Sahib come here very frequently?’
Abdul, who had just been pushed around by Meera, felt particularly charitable and friendly towards the simple and down-to-earth Bani and happily supplied her with an answer, ‘No Madamji…infact, now he hardly comes here. Very busy with his work. You must know he is a very big lawyer. Always very busy with work. Earlier he used to come here much often, but for the last few years, he just comes once every month…to check his garden and his beloved fishes.’
Bani heaved a sigh of relief and pushing her hair back nervously, asked him, ‘I think we should just rest for sometime…our flight was very early in the morning…we hardly got any sleep. Could you please let us know where we will be staying?’
Pooja and Saurabh who had been at the receiving end of Meera’s barbs, came rushing towards her, as Abdul answered back helpfully, ‘Everything is arranged, Madamji. Your bedrooms are in the right wing of the farmhouse…Bade Sahib’s PA Madam instructed us to give all of you three separate bedrooms…please come, I will show you.’
‘Hey you…take them to their bedrooms later on. First help me put my luggage in Jai’s bedroom!’ called out Meera, tossing her glossy mane and evoking a snarl from Pooja and Saurabh.
Abdul blinked his eyes and said in a shocked voice, ‘Whose bedroom?’
Giving a look of utter contempt, Meera repeated in a lazy voice, ‘Jai’s bedroom. Your Bade Sahib’s bedroom.’ And then mistaking the expression on Abdul’s face, added haughtily, ‘You don’t expect me to stay in the same type of rooms as these, right? I am sure Jai wouldn’t like it one bit!’
Abdul just kept staring at Meera in stupefaction and then answered back in his well-bred but firm tones, ‘Aisa hai Madamji…no one and I mean, NO ONE is allowed into Bade Sahib’s bedroom. It’s his standing orders to all of us here. Not even Chote Sahib is allowed to enter his bedroom without his permission. So please, either choose any bedroom in the right wing side of the house or I will ask Bade Sahib’s PA Madam to book a good hotel for you. The choice is yours.’
Saurabh and Pooja choked with laughter, even as Meera stood with her mouth open in shock at Abdul’s cool comeback, while Bani seemed too distracted and lost in her own world to react to anything around her.
Meera ended up taking the fanciest looking room, even before Abdul could have shown it to the others, but Bani negated all protest and said that they would be willing to put up anywhere. The last thing Bani wanted was any sort of problem or controversy that would reach Jai’s ears, in turn leading him to come here. She was more than willing to stay in the garage if it meant keeping out of Jai’s notice. Saurabh and Pooja went into their respective room, exclaiming with joy at the Laura Ashley wall-papers, the embedded lighting, the 5-star hotel type thick mattress beds and the latest entertainment systems fitted in the room.
Abdul looked at Bani standing like a nervous wreck and feeling pity for her, said, ‘Madamji, why are you still outside? You can take that room in the far end…the other Madamji thought that she has the best room, but she is wrong. After Bade Sahib's bedroom, this one is the best.’
Over-ruling all of Bani’s protests on giving her only the most ordinary of all the rooms, Abdul led her inside a beautiful bedroom, which was exactly the same as the others, except that it had a huge picture window. But when Bani walked towards it, she could see the Koi Carp Pond right below in the backyard garden. Jai’s beloved fishes were swimming in colourful abandon, evoking a smile from her, as she was reminded of Jai’s repulsion at eating Fish, even though he happily consumed every other meat based item.
‘This is the only room in the house which overlooks the Koi Fish Pond, along with Bade Sahib’s bedroom…’ remarked Abdul, placing the luggage and adding happily, ‘Madamji, if you and your colleagues need anything, please feel free to let me know.’
Bani gave him a warm smile and thanked him for all his help and just before he was about to leave, she asked him to stop for a minute. Assuming that she was going to tip him, Abdul blurted out in a slightly hurt and alarmed voice, ‘Nahin Madamji! Please don’t give me any money! Bade Sahib pays us very well…and he will be furious if he comes to know of this. I just refused the other Madamji…Meera Madam, when she gave me hundred rupees. She was very angry at me.’
Bani could not help smile at his reaction and spoke kindly, ‘I am not giving you money, Abdul Chacha. Here…this is a speciality of Bangalore. I got a couple of boxes for my sister and some other relatives. You helped the three of us so much, I have to give you something, isn’t it?’
Abdul looked stupefied when Bani handed him a box of Mysore Pak, a typical South-indian sweet and when she said, ‘I am sure your Bade Sahib won’t mind my giving you a box of sweets, is it?’ he could not help but grin widely.
Feeling overwhelmed at the respect and warmth shown by Bani, he exclaimed with emotion, ‘Oh! I love sweets! Especially this one! Bade Sahib always gets boxes and boxes of this sweet whenever he goes to visit Chote Sahib! Thank you Madamji…you are really very nice.’
A few hours later
Bani, Saurabh and Pooja met downstairs in a little corner near the entrance hall, after having rested for a couple of hours. Abdul had dolefully informed them that the cook was currently at Bade Sahib’s Gurgaon apartment and hence there was no readily available meal except some very unappetizing looking Muesli which was apparently Bade Sahib’s only preferred choice of breakfast. But thankfully, Bani had packed some Aloo Parantha’s and Mango pickle and Abdul had heated it up for the three of them for breakfast along with some terrible tea, which he had made.
Ostensibly, Abdul had no idea about cooking anything properly, since his main job was that of taking care of the Farmhouse. Besides, Jai had a personal cook who came to the Farmhouse alongside him to do all the cooking.
Bani could barely concentrate on what they were going to do for the wedding, nervously checking out the entrance of the room after every ten seconds, fearing that Jai would come in anytime. Noticing her lack of coordination and distraction, Pooja offered up, ‘Bani, you look exhausted. You have been working on four consecutive events for the last one month and now this big one. Say, there is still some time left before we update Jigyasa Mam. Why don’t you just go back to your room and take some rest. We can always began afresh in the evening or even tomorrow.’
Saurabh agreed and insisted on Bani leaving the work and just taking some rest, but Bani refused saying, ‘No, No. That won’t be right. Besides, I cannot sleep easily in unaccustomed surroundings. I will just do something else to get back my concentration and then we can have a reconnaissance of the house and come up with a blue-print for the preparations and arrangements for the upcoming functions. We need to get them ready by end of day today, and fax it to Bangalore Office.’
‘Madamji, what would you like to have for lunch? Can I order something from outside? Pijja?’ asked Abdul, making Saurabh and Pooja grin at his pronunciation. And then added with an apologetic expression, ‘Bade Sahib has not been coming over the Farmhouse for a long time, so our Ration supplies are not very updated…but you give me a list of what you like to eat and I will get it for you.’
‘Are you crazy? They are not guests here! They are workers…just like you! Why the hell would you spend your master’s money and get food for them from outside? They will manage on their own!’ came Meera’s whiplash voice.
Saurabh and Pooja went red with humiliation as Abdul gave a frustrated sigh and answered back in a civil tone, ‘Madamji…whatever they might be, at the moment, they are Bade Sahib’s guests…and he expects and pays me to take care of his guests in whatever way possible.’
‘You talk too much! I will have to put in a word to Jai!’ snapped Meera and then added, ‘They can manage their lunch on their own. Prepare a Cesar Salad for lunch along with a clear soup for me.’
Pooja was about to comment something, but kept quiet on seeing Bani’s expression telling them to keep calm and not react. Abdul gave a tight smile and said sweetly, ‘Aisa hai Madamji, if I make this Salad and soup for you, you might end up with food poisoning, since I cannot cook at all. So you can either risk getting poisoned or you can just take a cab down to the nearest market and eat whatever that pleases you. The choice is yours.’
Saurabh and Pooja doubled with laughter and despite her best intention, Bani could not help but smile at Abdul’s cheekiness and had to turn away her face in order to avoid looking at Meera’s expression on being put down by him again.
Muttering something under her breath, Meera picked up her designer Birkin Bag and walked away; tossing her hair and issuing threats to Abdul about complaining to Jai, but the man remained unfazed.
‘Abdul Chacha, I know that Meera Madam is being very rude, but still…you should not answer her back like that. She is your Bade Sahib’s guest…you might be in trouble if she complains to him.’ Said Bani, evoking a grin from him.
‘Our Bade Sahibji is a very fair man, Madamji. And he is not one to listen to other people…he forms his own opinions. I don’t mean to insult her, but she is being very unreasonable, not to say that she is insulting you people without any reason. You too, are Bade Sahib’s guests.’
Bani replied back soberly, ‘Not really…we are workers here, just like you.’ And then changing the topic, she asked him, ‘Is there any rice and dal in the kitchen?’
‘Why, yes, Madamji. Rice and Dal is always in stock…comes from Bade Sahib’s farm in Ganganagar.’
Bani turned to look at Saurabh and Pooja and asked them with a bright smile, ‘Would you guys like to eat a simple Kichdi for lunch? I am not really the biggest fan of Pizza here…and besides, Meera was correct. Doesn’t look nice to go about ordering food on the client’s expense, however generous they might be.’
‘We would love to, Bani! Ooh…I love Kichdi!’ exclaimed Pooja.
‘Abdul Bhaiyya, is it okay, if I use the kitchen for cooking? I promise not to break or spoil anything. And I will wash away everything later on; you don’t have to worry about any extra work.’
Abdul grinned and remarked, ‘What are you saying Madamji! Of course, you can use the kitchen…and please don’t bother about washing up anything. My wife does the cleaning, she will manage. And are you sure, you don’t want me to order food?’
‘Absolutely sure! You haven’t tasted Bani’s food…no one would prefer a Pizza to her Kichdi, believe me!’ remarked Saurabh, making Bani flush with embarrassment on being praised so much.
Later in the evening
The lunch had been a huge success and as always cooking had put Bani in a great mood and elevated her from the cloud of panic and apprehension that she had been undergoing since landing here in the morning. Knowing her luck, it was very much probable, that despite living in Jai’s very own house and being part of his own brother’s wedding, she would probably not even get to see him. If she had not heard a word from him in the last four years and missed him narrowly in Bangalore, anything was possible. Her fears about being spotted by Jai were most unlikely and farfetched.
He did not even come to the Farmhouse frequently and now that he knew that Jigyasa’s team was stationed, it was even more unlikely that he would land up here, amongst strangers.
Bani, Saurabh and Pooja had sat for the entire afternoon and a good part of the evening, doing a recce of the house and charting out the arrangements and décor. Bani had called up Jigyasa and updated her on everything and had been told to take it easy and not rush anything, since there was still enough time.
‘And for goodness sake, don’t stay cooped up inside the venue, working on the plans from dawn to dusk! You are still my employee, even while stationed in Delhi…so no work after 6 in the evening. Go out with Saurabh and Pooja…and enjoy your evenings. Okay?’ ordered Jigyasa, authoritative but caring voice over the phone.
Bani looked at her watch and spoke hesitantly to both of her colleagues, ‘Saurabh…Pooja, do you mind if I take some time off now? Pushkar is coming to pick me up. I wanted to see my sister…she is leaving for Vaishno Devi tomorrow with her family…and then we would also get busy with our work…so I was wondering if…’
Cutting short her rambling, Saurabh spoke with a smile, ‘Bani! You don’t have to give us explanations, for god sake! And look at you…you not only finished all the preliminary work on the arrangements, but even got an approval…wrapped up two days’ work in just a couple of hours!’
‘While Saurabh here was busy admiring Mr. Walia’s collection of vintage cars instead of helping us out!’ chirped Pooja.
‘Yes…and you were working right? What were you doing in the garden, twirling around in the Gazebo and I even saw you trying to pick a rose from the garden! Didn’t you hear Abdul say that Mr. Walia Senior is fanatical about his garden? Do you want to land us in trouble?’ came back Saurabh.
Bani called peace before the two could continue their argument and asked again, ‘So can I go for a couple of hours? I have taken permission from Jigyasa Mam.’
‘Oh! Come on Bani! Of course, you can go! I have got a couple of DVD’s along with me…Saurabh and I will spend our evening watching You got mail!’ announced Pooja, making Saurabh wince with disgust and Bani laugh.
‘Thank you both so much! Pushkar will be here anytime to pick me up…I should be back only by ten or so at night…my sister lives quite far from here.’
‘Don’t worry…you go and see your sister and enjoy your time off. And just be careful, Delhi isn’t exactly a safe place for young women to go wandering about at night.’ Warned Saurabh in a caring voice.
‘Pushkar will drop me back! I won’t get too late anyway. Bye then! Have a great evening.’
Bidding goodbye to both her colleagues, Bani went out when she heard Pushkar honking his bike, which he had borrowed from his cousin.
Later that evening
Meera had come back after her extended lunch time which included a whole lot of shopping as evidenced by the number of bags she brought back.
Saurabh and Pooja had finished watching their movie and were sitting in the porch, playing cards and deciding on what to order for food, since Bani wasn’t around and none of them could cook to save their lives.
Ignoring them pointedly, Meera breezed inside the house, calling out for Abdul to deliver the parcels to her room and fix her a drink.
Pooja snickered and remarked, ‘I can bet Abdul will mix something undesirable in the drink and give it to that witch!’
Saurabh laughed and replied back, ‘Just imagine! She came here stating that she wanted to overlook our work and Madam vanished from lunch time! Does she have any idea of what sort of work we do?’
‘I have my doubts, Saurabh! It’s a pity, Bani is not as sharp with her tongue as she is talented with her work, else she could have shown that Meera her right place!’
‘Well, we have dear Abdul for that!’ came back Saurabh, making Pooja splutter with laughter.
They were planning to have another round of Rummy, when they heard the front entrance gates creaking open and Abdul coming out running, with an air of importance.
‘What happened Abdul? Whose Car is that?’ asked Pooja, standing up and looking at the powerful Land Rover driving in through the gates.
‘Bade Sahib!’ blurted out Abdul, in half panic and bewilderment.
Saurabh and Pooja looked flustered and shocked, without any reason to do so and said to him, ‘But you said that Mr. Walia never comes here on weekdays! How come…’
‘I don’t know Madamji. His driver…Kailash just called up to say that he was coming! Okay…I have to rush now.’ And saying that he went running towards the main gate.
Saurabh and Pooja did not know what to do, especially with Bani not around and they just picked up the stack of cards and rushed inside, only to be met by Meera.
‘What happened? Why do you look so white-faced?’ she snapped.
‘Bade Sahib…I mean, Mr. Walia has come! So unexpected!’ blurted out Saurabh, evoking first an expression of shock and then a smug smile from Meera.
‘What is so unexpected? Its his house! Besides, I am sure he knew that I was coming too…so clearly he came to meet me!’ she announced, sweeping past them and looking out eagerly. This was going good…only a few hours earlier, she was regretting having coming to Delhi to help with the wedding, realizing that (a) Jai hardly ever visited the Farmhouse and (b) she had no idea regarding the arrangements required in a wedding nor had any interest in running around for it, especially not for Purva, whom she detested.
She had only jumped at Nachiket’s offer in order to get close with Jai, who had fascinated her in their very first meeting. And after having seen the kind of wealth he possessed, Meera had been certain that she had finally met a man whom she wanted to marry.
Jai walked in looking harassed and irritated, his stark white shirt creased, sleeves rolled one fourth up, revealing strong, tanned arms, on which he was wearing a collector’s edition of Patek Philip, a small gift from a grateful client, whom Jai had saved from a lifetime of rotting in jail.
He was speaking on the phone, sounding aggravated an annoyed over something and his very persona seemed to intimidate both Saurahb and Pooja, who tried to blend in the background and appear as invisible as possible.
‘I don’t bloody get it! When I say that I want certain things in certain order, why can’t they be done? How long has Shanbagh been working with me? 3 yeas? If she can’t learn even this much till now, I doubt she will survive in the long run! No…Adi…I am not over-reacting…I am just furious…I don’t like rushing here and there at the end of the day, looking out for important papers when they should have been filed and completed by now. This is so damn frustrating!’
Jai kept quiet, apparently listening to the other side of the conversation, while Meera waited eagerly for him to see her and Saurabh and Pooja tried to find a way to sneak out quietly.
‘Well, whatever! They will most probably be in my room…but this is not the way things work in my office. And I DO NOT like the paralegals bossing over my personal staff for mistakes that they have committed. Shanbagh had no business shouting on Sheryl…who in my opinion is hundred times more efficient than Shanbagh can ever hope to be! Okay…now I am disconnecting the phone…I have to look for that bloody document! No…I cannot attend the party tonight, Adi! I had to drive all the way up here from work to search for that document…I am staying put here for the night! Am totally exhausted and fed-up! Bye!’ saying that Jai banged shut his IPhone, muttering something under his lips and shouting out for Abdul.
‘Abdul…here are the keys to my room. Just open it and please fix me a drink. My head is splitting with pain!’ remarked Jai, as he noticed Meera, standing next to him, with a drink in her hand.
‘What luck…here is your drink!’ and saying that, she hugged Jai and remarked, ‘how nice seeing you again, Jai!’
Giving her a bewildered look, Jai spoke in a flabbergasted voice, ‘Who in the blinkers are you?’
Saurabh and Meera who had just found a way to sneak out of the room, heard Jai’s comment and could not help but burst into laughter on seeing Jai’s reaction to Meera and her subsequent expression on being questioned about her identity by Jai.
Going crimson with embarrassment, Meera tried to salvage her pride and spoke with fake cheerfulness, ‘Oh, come on Jai! Meera!’
Still getting a completely blank response from Jai, she flustered and added hastily, ‘Purva’s cousin…Meera Raheja. We met at La Rochelle a couple of weeks back, remember?’
As recognition dawned on Jai, he gave a sort of preoccupied smile and said apologetically, ‘Oh…Oh…I got it! I am sorry…I have just had a terrible day…I simply couldn’t’ place you! Oh…how nice to see you again, Ms. Raheja!’
‘Call me Meera!’ she smiled handing him her drink and rudely signalling Abdul to fix another one for her.
Still looking perplexed and disinterested, Jai muttered, ‘Uh…okay, Meera. Nice to see you….’ Even though he couldn’t imagine what she was doing here.
Then his eyes fell on the young duo of Saurabh and Pooja and looking even more bewildered, he said, ‘Are these two also with you? I don’t remember seeing them at La Rochelle!’
Saurabh and Pooja, highly intimidated by Jai’s stature kept staring mutely, while Meera did not offer an explanation, thrilled to have seen the two of them in a spot and wondering if Jai would give them a sound verbal lashing, mistaking them for strangers.
‘Sahibji…Sirji and Madamji have come this morning…for Chote Sahib’s wedding…from Jigyasa Madamji’s office.’ Explained Abdul, giving a reassured smile at the nervous duo.
‘Oh! Oh! I just remembered. Yes…Yes…Chote had told me that you guys would be coming. Okay…Okay…and Meera, you too! Thanks for the kind offer to help out with the arrangements…I hope you find everything comfortable here.’ Jai remarked in general to everyone, but Meera took it for herself.
‘The house is beautiful, Jai! Who was the architect and designer? I will tell Daddy to use the same guy for our upcoming farmhouse near Hosur!’
Jai looked thoroughly disinterested in Meera’s chit-chat, but realizing that she was Purva’s cousin, maintained a polite expression, even though he felt irritated by the familiarity she was displaying with him.
Feeling a bit sorry for the two mousy looking youngsters, Jai smiled at them and asked kindly, ‘Did you guys find everything okay here? Your rooms ect?’
Overwhelmed by his geniality, despite the fact that he was such a prominent man, Saurabh and Pooja nodded eagerly and said, ‘Everything is great, Sir. Thank you so much.’
‘You can tell Abdul if you need anything….’ Jai spoke, walking up towards his room and looking annoyed with Meera for following him without any reason to do so.
‘Yes Sir. He has been very helpful, thank you for asking.’ Replied Pooja.
Turning to look back at Meera, he remarked in a polite yet stark voice, ‘Meera, if you would excuse me. I have a couple of important documents to check in my room…why you don’t wait here with these two… I will be back in a couple of minutes.’
Saying that, Jai did not give a chance for Meera to react, instead simply climbing the stairs and walked into his room, shutting it decisively from inside. Despite their nervousness, Saurabh and Pooja could barely control their glee on seeing Jai effectively deal with Meera, much to her dismay.
A while later
Jai came down, after having taken a bath and shaved, looking casual yet dashing in a pair of jeans and a white linen half-sleeve shirt. His wet hair tousled into curls at the nape of his neck and he smelled seductively of cologne.
Making some civil, impersonal talk with Saurabh and Pooja and trying his best to be courteous to Meera, who was infuriating the very life out of him.
‘Sir, would you like to have a look at the plans we have made for the functions? Our colleagues charted them up today…Jigyasa Mam has given her approval, but do go through it and let us know what you feel?’ asked Pooja, rather respectfully.
Jai looked indifferent and simply shrugged his head, saying, ‘I trust Jiggy…I mean Jigyasa to handle all this…besides, I am sure you know your job better than I do.’
Saurabh and Pooja smiled, wondering what else to say, feeling rather awkward in Jai’s towering presence, when Meera chimed in, ‘Where is that girl gone?’
‘What girl?’ asked Jai, looking perplexed at the thought of so many strangers milling around in his house.
‘The third one…really annoying!’ snorted Meera, evoking a snarl from both Saurabh and Pooja, who adored Bani.
‘She has taken some time off and gone to visit her sister.’ Remarked Pooja, giving a cold look in Meera’s direction.
‘Just look at this Jai! Height of unprofessionalism!’ barked Meera and giving a scornful glance at both of them, snapped, ‘I saw her going on a bike with that guy who came with us in the morning…visiting her sister indeed. Must have gone on a date! Typical of such girls! Jai, you should seriously put in a word to Jigyasa regarding the attitude of her employees.’
Scandalized at the accusation on Bani’s character, both Saurabh and Pooja charged in her defence and spoke vehemently, ‘that’s not true, Sir. She has not gone on any date…she has indeed gone to visit her sister with her friend. And she wrapped off all the work before leaving…got Jigyasa Mam’s permission too…’
‘Complete Lie, I am sure…sneaking off like this when she should have been working…’ came back Meera, evoking another reaction from the duo, till Jai snapped in a low, cold growl, ‘That is enough now!’
Giving a taciturn look at Saurabh and Pooja, Jai spoke in an authoritative voice, ‘if you want to have your cat fights, have it outside of the premises of my house or at least not when I am around. You have come to work here, so I expect you to only do that and nothing else.’
Meera looked elated at the way Jai had put both of them down, only till he turned to face her and spoke in an artic voice, ‘And Meera…I don’t give a damn about who goes out on dates and who doesn’t! They are Jigyasa’s employees and what they do during or after their work hours does not concern me at all…and it should not bother you too. So please don’t try to fill my ears with pointless gossip in which I have categorically no interest.’
Saying that, he got up, rubbing his head; this was now paining badly and called out for Abdul, who came darting along.
‘Abdul, is there something to eat here?’
Abdul blinked his eyes and mumbled, ‘Muejeli, Sahib?’
‘No…not Muesli!’ grumbled Jai and then shrugging his head in desperation, simply snarled, ‘Forget it. I will check out the kitchen myself.’
Turning to look at both Saurabh and Pooja, who were looking pale with terror on seeing Jai’s infamous display of temper, he spoke in a considerate voice, ‘Do you kids like Chinese Food?’
Saurabh nodded his head and Jai gave a short smile and said, ‘I have asked my driver to get some food packed from The China Club. You will love it! It’s my personal favourite too.’
Pooja smiled bashfully and spoke in a low voice, ‘Thank you, Sir. Won’t you be joining us for dinner?’
‘No…I am not in the mood to have outside food today. You guys enjoy it…you too, Meera. I will fix up something for myself in the kitchen.’ Saying that he walked away, leaving Saurabh and Pooja sniggering at Meera, who looked catalytic with anger at having been put down by Jai.
In the Kitchen
Jai went through some of the boxes and looked disdainfully inside the fridge. It was mostly empty except a carton of yoghurt and he took it out, wondering what to eat it with. His eyes fell on a closed lid pan kept on the burner and he opened it to check what was inside.
‘Kichdi?’ remarked Jai with complete surprise and wondered who had cooked it. Abdul could not even prepare a decent cup of tea for him. It looked cold, so he guessed that it must have been made for lunch. Taking a ladle full of the preparation on a plate, he heated it up in the microwave and when the smell hit his nostrils, a sudden nostalgia swept over him.
The aroma of the lentil and rice preparation was so familiar…pouring some yogurt over the kichdi, he took a spoonful into his mouth and almost instantly exclaimed, ‘Bani?’
Abdul came into the kitchen with the purpose of helping his boss, and Jai asked him in a dumbfounded manner, ‘Who cooked this, Abdul?’
‘That other Madamji, Sahib.’ Answered Abdul in a respectful voice.
‘Which other Madam?’ asked Jai, with a sinking feeling at the pit of his stomach.
‘The one who has come for Chote Sahib’s wedding arrangements, with the Sirji and Madamji who are outside.’
Jai was very still…it could not be true. Was Bani the only person in the world who could make this particular dish? But then he instantly realized how foolish he as being. It was one thing whipping up a certain recipe as common as this one…many people could do that. But it was quite another, to leave your personal imprint on it…that was unique to every cook. Bani’s kichdi had a particular taste that had lingered in on Jai’s memory for the last four years…he could have recognized the flavour of her cooking in his sleep. No one could make Kichdi like she did.
Almost mechanically finishing his dish, Jai went out and saw that Meera, Saurabh and Pooja were digging into the lavish Chinese spread that Jai had ordered for them. In a distracted manner, he spoke to them, ‘I hope you like the food…and Meera, I am sorry for losing my cool…I just had an awful day at work and I have not been keeping very well…listen, why don’t I make up for it? We can go for dinner tomorrow evening, what do you say?’
Meera, who had been in the midst of gulping a shrimp dumpling looked elated and nodded her head with joy, much to Saurabh and Pooja’s disgust, who had stopped eating when Jai had walked in.
Realizing that he was probably making them uncomfortable with his presence, Jai said, ‘I am out in the lawns…I have a couple of calls to make…you guys carry on.’
An hour later
Jai had been pacing up and down in the lawns, sipping his scotch and making official calls, but hardly concentrating, since his eyes were set upon the gate. It was close to 10:30 at night and whoever the third person was, hadn’t come back.
Jigyasa’s ditzy assistant who had inexplicably braved torrential downpour to attend his seminar on criminal law, despite not having any background in it. Pia informing him that Bani was now living in Bangalore and was employed somewhere. Everything seemed to add up for Jai. Though he could hardly get himself to believe it. Here he had taken every precaution to avoid her for the last four years, not even calling her up when he was right there in Bangalore and fate had brought her to his very doorsteps!
What could he do if the universe was conspiring to get them back together?
Just then, he heard the noise of the Iron Gate being pushed open slightly and the sound of a male voice laughing and the tinkling of bangles. He stood quietly where he was and saw a female form walking in towards the house. She was tall with a wholesome sort of figure, her hair was left open and she had a pre-occupied look to her. Though it was pretty dark outside, the lights in the lawns being dimmed out by now, Jai could not fail to recognise who she was.
In a way, though she had changed significantly over the last four years, paradoxically she still seemed exactly the girl-next-door from Mukteshwar to him. Slight unsure in her step, a bit low on confidence, as was evident by the way she had wrapped herself up with her arms, her head bent low over her slender neck.
Standing in the shadows of the dimly lit garden, Jai noticed the hint of a cheekbone on her oval shaped faced, her unctuous hair brushing against her forehead, her eyes which had always captivated him, looking conspicuously beautiful because of the hint of kajal in them.
The previously non-existent figure now displayed in lush curves because of the fitted salwar kameez she had worn. She had most definitely lost weight…loads of it, but not in the way that made her anaemically thin…if she had appeared plump and chubby earlier, she looked perfectly fit and curvy now.
And her hair? Jai could not even remember seeing her ever with her hair open in the one year that he had known her and now her luxurious tresses were framing her face with such flawlessness.
Did she look drop dead gorgeous? Jai couldn’t be sure! But now there was an understated elegance and charm about her…something which took his breath away; because he had always teased Bani relentlessly for her general gaucherie and clumsiness that she was forever displaying back in Mukteshwar.
Many women could manage to look beautiful with the right clothes and the correct make-up, but few could appear so easy in their own skin, the way Bani looked now.
Her oxidized silver bangles jingled alluringly when she pushed her silky locks behind her ears and Jai could hardly come to terms with the fact that he felt enormously seduced by her unassuming loveliness and innocence.
Felt seduced by Bani, of all the women in the world! Something was surely going wrong somewhere!
Of course, he was still madly in love with her…but never had he desired her physically, the way he wanted her right now.
Back in Mukteshwar, he had seen her as the sweet, adorable girl who had lovingly guided him back to life and health, with her child-like exuberance and joie de vivre…brushing aside all his fears of being affected by his Cancer for life…cheering him up daily with her presence…ignoring his temper and vile tongue…being a friend to him without expecting anything in return.
He had fallen in love with Bani, the person…with the goodness of her heart, with the kindness of her nature, with her ever cheerful face and sunny disposition. With the kind of superior individual that she was…something which Jai could never be.
Though he had never told her so, Jai had always been in wonder and even awe of Bani…because she was naturally gifted with all those qualities which Jai could not possess even if he had tried for them.
The gift of being compassionate and kind without being patronizing…of being generous and magnanimous without expecting a single thing in return…of being so serene and patient towards everyone’s faults and failings…of being accepting and caring with such self-abnegation…of being so fundamentally good as a human being, that it was almost incredible to Jai, that such people could actually exist in the world.
It seemed the most natural thing in the world to Jai that he had fallen in love with Bani. Who wouldn’t? How could anyone not love someone so good?
But now…bizarre, forbidding emotions filtered his mind…it was one thing being in love with someone, but not being bodily attracted to them…that kind of love could be controlled in some way or the other. Jai had done that, hadn’t he? Managed to stay away from Bani, despite having her on his mind continuously?
Now he felt other passions and an emotion creeping in to his head…this was getting to be perilous.
Being deeply in love with someone…and desiring them physically could only lead to trouble of the kind, that Jai had diligently avoided for the last four years.
She was so preoccupied with her own thoughts, that she almost walked past him, till he stopped her by putting his arm around her waist, and whispered in an amused, husky tone ‘I should have guessed earlier on. The kichdi was a good enough hint.’
Bani seemed to jump out of her skin at the sudden intrusion to her chain of thoughts and looked up in complete amazement, taken aback by the sudden appearance of someone from apparently nowhere.
She stared back at Jai with astonished pair of eyes and could hardly utter a single word or even make a movement.
‘It’s my very own house…you need not look so dumbfounded by my presence, Miss Dixit!’ smiled Jai, finishing his liquor and throwing the crystal glass carelessly on the lawns, waiting for her to react.
‘Jai…’she muttered, still holding that stunned expression and dropping her cloth bag on the ground, fell on his chest in a heap and sobbed, like there was no tomorrow.
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