Second
Attachments by Poppy
Authors’s
Note : I
have taken the story of an old FF, The Unfaithful and presented it in this new
format.
Story Background : The story is set against the backdrop of the original Kasamh Se, taking on from the point where Jai and Bani are separated after the Park Road Raaz comes out and she loses her child during the murderous attack, when she tries to protect Jai’s life. Most of the characters remain the same as in the show, except that Raashi is married to Saahil and Rano and Ranveer are still single. Pia and Pushkar are seperated, and nothing has happened between Pia and Jai. Also, I haven’t gone into details of who tries to kill JW and ends up harming Bani instead…all that is just mentioned in passing. JW has come to know the truth about Bani’s miscarriage while she is still in the hospital. Now read on…
Part I A
For some strange, unexplained reason, Jai remembered the story of snow-white and the seven dwarfs. The particular scene that had caused him to cry out loud in the auditorium of his primary school, where Snow-white lay on her bed, pale and calm…as silent as the night.
Today, more than 35 years later, he could visualize the same scene again…when he saw Bani lying with the same chilling silence on the hospital bed, swathed in white robes and surrounded by what looked like a thousand medical apparatus. It was only till Massi’s comforting hand touched his shoulders, which made Jai to come to his own.
One look at Massi’s face and all the anguish and pain that had buried itself in Jai’s heart seemed to burst open like a dam and he broke down crying.
‘Munna...don’t cry like that. Don’t do that Jai…please…if you break into pieces, who will comfort her?’
Still sobbing, Jai replied back in a choked voice, ‘What comfort can I give her Massi? Its all because of me…I have given her nothing but my hatred and anger…and if she is here today, its only for me.’
Massi stood watching Jai dissolving in his guilt and pain and unable to hold herself back, she too broke down crying. ‘Beta, don’t blame yourself like that…it’s not your fault…just as it wasn’t Bani’s…it’s…its just destiny.’
Jai had stopped crying and repeated in an absent voice, ‘Yes, its destiny…I never believed in it…but now that I look back…it is the only explanation I have, for all that happened…the good and the bad.’
Massi patted Jai’s hair and spoke comfortingly, ‘Nothing is lost Jai…the Doctor has said that there is hope…and now, you know the truth also…lets just leave everything upon God to set things right once again.’
Jai sat in silence, lost in his thoughts, till Rano who had been standing in a corner, overhearing the conversation, came near him and kneeled in front of Jai. ‘Yes Jeejaji…nothing is lost…and I know that you and Bani di are just meant to be…Life will give you another chance.’
Jai looked at his youngest sister-in-law, who had tears in her eyes but a faint yet reassuring smile on her face and Massi, always optimistic and positive added, ‘And when life gives you and Bani that another chance, make sure that you grab it with both your hands and never let it go again.’
Part I B
‘She is out of danger, Mr. Walia.’
No other words could have given more peace to Jai than the ones just uttered by Dr. Mathur. He sat in stillness, waiting for the doctor to say something more, still anxious and terrified about his wife’s condition, not still fully believing that she was now going to live.
Dr. Mathur looked at Jai’s pale, drawn out face, his eyes had sunken, his cheekbones looked protruded and he looked like he could collapse just any moment. Clearing her throat, she said in a slightly light-hearted vein, ‘Your wife is on recovery, but you look like a wreck, Mr. Walia.’
Jai looked up at the Doctor and she spoke in a comforting tone, ‘I know you have been under grave mental distress…but if you ruin your health in this manner, who will take care of her…I hope you understand that she has literally come back from her own death…and it will take a long time for her to heal…physically and emotionally.’
Jai spoke, his deep voice, gravelly and pleading, ‘Can…Can I see her?’
Dr. Mathur took off her glasses and after a few moment’s silence spoke softly, ‘I…I am not sure, Mr. Walia. After all that you told me…regarding what happened between you and your wife…the manner in which it happened…she is in deep trauma…and has just begun responding to the medication…but is still in an emotional limbo…I am not sure, how she will react to your presence right away.’
Jai felt his broken heart shattering into further pieces on hearing this, but bracing up, he answered back, ‘I understand…I will just look at her from outside the ICU…but…will you tell me if she asks about me?’
Dr. Mathur was so touched by Jai’s pain and anguish over Bani, that she felt her eyes smarting and immediately summoned herself up to not get emotional about a patient’s personal life. In her best professional tones, she replied back, ‘Of course. And please don’t lose heart…everything will fall in the right place…just give it some time.’
Part I C
A sharp spasm of pain ran through Bani’s entire body, the moment she regained consciousness. Such was the intensity of pain in her lower abdomen that a cry escaped her bruised lips and tears came out involuntarily.
Rano who had fallen asleep, woke up with a startle and gasped when she saw Bani’s eyes open. ‘Di…’ she whispered, coming near her sister, holding on to her cold, frail fingers, finding it impossible to hold back her tears at seeing her sister’s condition, yet happiness filled her heart, at having Bani react for the first time in the last fifteen days since she had been brought to the hospital in a physically battered state.
Bani blinked her eyes and tried to focus on the voice and a faint smile came on to her face, when she recognized her youngest sister. Both of them looked at each other in silence, till Rano could hold no more and broke down crying copiously, keeping her head on the pillow on which Bani was resting.
Next Morning
Bani had been propped up a pillow and between Raashi and Rano, was getting a breakfast of apple juice poured into her mouth by spoonful.
Raashi tenderly wiped the stray drops that came onto to her lips and smiled warmly at Bani. ‘Are you feeling better than yesterday, Mamiji?’
Bani did not reply back but just kept sitting, expressionless. Both Rano and Raashi exchanged a look, indicating that it was still early days for them to expect any normal conversation from Bani.
They had just finished giving breakfast when Massi and Aditya came along. Aditya smiled warmly and spoke, ‘We are so happy that you are alright Bani…and that you are with your family again.’ Massi came near her, tears filling her eyes and planting a light kiss on Bani’s bandaged forehead, echoed the same sentiments.
By the time it was afternoon, Bani felt exhausted by the stream of visitors who had been coming. Pushkar had come alongside his family, followed by Nachiket who had actually ended up making Bani smile with his jokes and anecdotes. Ranveer had visited along with Saahil and Jigyasa, who looked wrought with guilt and concern over Bani’s state. The last person to come had been Pia, looking so heartbroken and so shaken, that even Rano had felt bad for her, considering that she had not been on speaking terms with Pia for a very long time now.
With the visiting hours over, the nurse had come and given medicines to Bani and put her off to sleep and in the silence of her room, Bani ended up crying for a long time over the one person whom she had been so desperate to see, but had not shown up till now. Maybe she deserved it…after all hadn’t she lost his most cherished dream because of her stubbornness and carelessness. Running her bruise laden hand over the empty stomach, Bani found it impossible to stop the stream of tears that seemed to have become her destiny now.
It was close to midnight, when Bani stirred slightly in her sleep. Maybe it was the effect of the sedatives and tranquilizers or the black memories of that gruesome assault on her that disturbed her sleep so badly. But she felt as if there was someone in the room…someone who was looking at her. Despite her best efforts, Bani found it impossible to open her eyes and focus in the darkness…but she could sense a definite presence…and strangely it did not make her feel afraid…rather it comforted her…made her desperate to open her eyes and see who that presence was.
When Bani awoke the next morning, she could see Rano standing nearby; measuring out the medicines that had to be given to Bani and Raashi was just entering the room getting breakfast for her from home. Nothing seemed unusual, till Bani turned her head to see a huge bouquet of white lilies placed on a vase besides her bed. She kept staring at the flowers, which looked slightly wilted, as if they had stayed a full night in the vase before the morning…a strange feeling escaped Bani…someone had been in the room last night…and there was just one person in the whole world who could have remembered that White Lilies were her favorite flowers.
Gasping for breath, Bani whispered in a broken, hoary voice, ‘Mr. Walia…was he there in this room?’ Rano and Raashi were so stunned by the fact that Bani had uttered her first words after coming out of the Coma, that they kept staring blankly at her for several moments, till Rano gushed in happiness, ‘Di…you spoke? I can’t believe this…wait till I tell Massi…and of course Dr. Mathur should be informed…and Pushkar will be so happy…and Nachiket will come running right now with Ranveer and Aditya Uncle…’
In the excitement pervading, Bani lost sense of what she wanted to ask and was stunned into silence again, staring at those wilted flowers…which still carried the deep, intense scene that distinguishes white lilies.
Part I D
1 Month Later
Jai had finished packing his suitcase and was putting his personal belongings in a separate bag, when Massi and Aditya entered his room.
‘Munna, why are you doing this? Now when everything has been set right…and Bani is coming back home…why are you leaving this house?’ Jai looked at Massi and Aditya’s anguished face and spoke quietly, ‘She has just recovered physically from that incident…but is completely broken down…seeing me would only remind her of that past more and more…its best that I stay away from her for as long as she takes to recover…and only when she asks for me, shall I come back.’
Jigyasa had come from behind and she said, both angry and sad, ‘Jai Bhaiyya, this is your house…why do you have to leave it?’ Jai stared at his sister and such was the reigned in fury in them, that Jigyasa shuddered and moved behind Aditya, as if for support against her brother’s anger.
‘If only you had shown this concern and this affection for me earlier on, Jigyasa…a lot of things that happened would have never happened in the first place…’ Looking at the hurt on Jigyasa face at his words, Jai spoke in a softer yet defeated tone, ‘Yet, there is no one to blame but me…My marriage and my wife were my responsibility and I failed them both miserably…so if anyone has to live with regret and pain, then its only me.’
Saying that Jai called Tony to take his packed belongings to the Car and he drove off to his empty apartment which was some distance away from Walia Mansion.
Two days Later
Pushkar held Bani’s hands and spoke with warmth and tenderness, ‘Bani, even though Pia and I are not together anymore, I hope that truth never come between our relationship…our friendship…and that is why I want you to know that you can come and stay with us anytime you want…if you don’t want to go back to Walia Mansion, I can…’
Bani smiled back at Pushkar and spoke with some effort, ‘I know that you care for me Pushkar…and that you will always be there for me…but I want to go back to my home…’
Pushkar patted her cheeks gingerly and smilingly added, ‘I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear that…besides, you know what a terrible cook Seema Bhabh is…’
Bani broke out laughing gently, joined in by Pushkar who continued regaling her with some more light-hearted words.
Jai stood outside the door watching both of them…till he felt too heartbroken to see Bani and not able to be near her, that he turned and stormed out of the hospital building, going straight inside his Car and keeping his head on the steering wheel, smarted under the tears of desperation and longing-ness that he felt for Bani.
Part I E
Walia Mansion
Bani was overcome by the love, affection and care that was lavished upon her, the moment she set her foot upon her married home. No one seemed to leave her without attendance for even a few minutes…be it Raashi’s labored ministrations over Bani’s food or Rano giving her medicines on the dot of time…or Massi reading out the Ramayan for her every morning or Dadi and Aditya cheering up Bani with their jovial talk. Nachiket never forgot to get fresh flowers for her daily to be placed by her bedside and even the usually reserved Ranveer, came and sat with Bani every evening after he came home from Office. Only Jigyasa and Saahil seemed to ignore her, but even they refrained from any of their usual rudeness or coldness towards Bani, just staying out of her room.
Bani responded to the medication and to the attention and love of her family faster than what Dr. Mathur had anticipated.
But an unfathomably deep pain lingered in Bani’s heart…it was more than a month since she was brutally attacked, thereby losing the child in her womb and getting grievously injured. Where was Jai? Why hadn’t he come to visit her even once? Why wasn’t anyone talking about him? Why couldn’t she see him at home or even hear his voice?
The only reason that Bani could think of was that Jai was extremely angry and broken up by the death of their child…and held her responsible. Hadn’t he kept begging her for the last few months of her pregnancy to take care of herself? Hadn’t he literally gone on his knees asking her not to risk the child’s life by staying all alone? Hadn’t he asked for her forgiveness over her mother’s death innumerable times, pleading her not to bargain their child’s future over what happened in the past?
And today, his deepest fear, his biggest apprehension, his greatest letdown had come true…Bani had lost the child that had been Jai’s dream and no one else, but she was responsible.
It was too late to give explanations…to tell Jai that she had long forgiven and forgotten about what happened 7 years back with her Mother…that the reason for her separation from Jai was something much more serious…that she had no go but to be blackmailed because his life was at stake…that she couldn’t tell him the truth because the very people who he loved and trusted were backstabbing him…that she had no other way out but to put her life to risk to save his.
Tears filled up her beautiful eyes…Jai had once told her that her eyes had the color of an autumn evening…and that they spoke everything that she couldn’t manage with words. Bani wondered why anyone would want to fall in love if it hurt so badly. Every memory about their short-lived marriage brought out such spasms of deep pain, that she wanted to cry her heart out for Jai. Even in those precious few months of her marriage, Bani had found the promise of a lifetime of love and affection from her husband…the man whom she worshipped before god…the man who had started filling the palette of her life with every possible color…and when she had begun seeing the love she had for him in his eyes too…destiny had played a cruel hand and everything had fallen apart…so much so that Bani did not even know where to look and start collecting the fragments of her broken life.
Part I F
Walia Industries
It was almost the fifth time that one of Aditya, Ranveer and Tarun had to fill in for Jai, as the client volleyed questions after questions. Jai was just physically present in the board room but it was evident that he was completely clueless about what was going on.
A look passed between the trio and Aditya, taking the lead as the senior director of Walia Industries, addressed the client, ‘So Mr. McWilliams, I hope we have resolved all the main issues…and if there are any minor details to be discussed, I propose you sort them over Lunch with our senior management executives, Ranveer Bali and Nachiket Walia.’
Before the very unhappy Mr. McWilliams could offer a protest, Ranveer and Nachiket very deftly ushered him out of the board room and took him for a business lunch.
Tarun looked on to Jai, who had his chin placed on his folded palms and was staring at his laptop, completely unaware of his surrounding. Adtiya looked on too and spoke gently yet with a tinge of frustration, ‘Jai…what is this? You called the McWilliams chap for a one to one meeting and didn’t answer even one of his questions…he looked furious…I wonder how those two boys are going to handle him…’
Getting no response from Jai, Aditya shook his head and indicated towards Tarun to say something. ‘Jai…Jai…are you even present in this room?’
ai looked blankly at his best friend and company lawyer and spoke almost nostalgically, ‘Bani came to this very board room on her first day in this office…I was in a meeting with my board of directors…Adi, do you remember? And when I saw her interrupting the presentation, I shouted so loudly, that the cup of coffee she had been holding for me fell from her hands…and she stood there shivering, tears filling in those beautiful eyes…till Pushkar went and gave her a tissue paper and helped her out of the room…I came to know later on that Gloria had asked her to get some coffee for me and that she had ended up burning her hands with the hot liquid…I had felt bad…but never bothered to apologize.’
Aditya felt so emotional on hearing the words, that he covered his face in the palms of his hands, feeling distraught at his friend’s mental state and Tarun looked extremely worried. Taking lead, Tarun spoke calmly, ‘Jai, stop doing this to yourself. For god sake, just look at you…work can be managed…we are all there…but please get a grip on yourself…and stop this self-punishment.’
Aditya looked up at his brother-in-law and added, ‘Tarun is right; Jai…stop blaming yourself for all that happened…what could you have done about it? It was just an unfortunate, unwanted accident…’
Suddenly getting agitated, Jai banged on the table and almost shouted out in a hoarse voice, choked with emotion, ‘I am her husband, Adi…I vowed to protect her…to take care of her…to always be with her…and when she wanted me the most…I wasn’t there…did you see her in that hospital bed? Did you see her Tarun? Did you see soaked in blood and writhing in unimaginable pain? Where was I then? Where was I when she was hit mercilessly by those bastards who wanted to kill me? Where was I when she was blackmailed into silence to protect my life? Where was I when she put her life into risk only so that nothing would happen to me?’
Stunned into silence, Tarun and Aditya stared on to Jai’s flushed face and blood red eyes and he spoke with ominous chill, ‘Every breath that I am taking now is a gift from her…a gift for which she had to put herself through a lifetime of pain and grief…how do you think I am going to continue living with the same life that she has given me?’
Saying that, Jai stormed off, leaving an aghast and shocked Tarun and Aditya speechless.
Walia Mansion
Raashi had helped change Bani into a Sari, something she was wearing after a very long gap. She had expressed her desire to wear one and Raashi had been so happy to see Bani expressing a wish, that she had immediately taken out Bani’s entire wardrobe and chosen the prettiest Sari in it.
‘There goes the gold chain in your neck…and Mamiji, I envy you so much for looking this beautiful…even though according to Dr. Mathur, you are anemic right now.’
Bani laughed alongside Raashi and was later joined in by Rano who announced that Tarun had come to meet her and could she get him to her room. Tarun came holding a huge bouquet of white lilies inside the room and before she could react, lurching forward dramatically, planted a light kiss on both her cheeks and said in all seriousness, ‘Please marry me, Bani!’
Seeing the look of utter shock in Bani, Raashi and Rano’s faces, he took a few steps back and putting his hands up said, ‘This is also called a joke in some cultures…and if any of you are going to slap me, I will take it in very good spirits.’
Bani found herself laughing uncontrollably for the next one hour, thoroughly embarrassed yet amused by Tarun’s outrageous flirting and jokes. In between, Tarun remarked, ‘Yaar, don’t laugh so much...I don’t want any of your surgical suchers falling off with all that laughing. Jai will hunt me down and cut me into pieces if anything happens to you.’
At the mention of his name, Bani’s expression immediately altered and a look of such yearning and love came over her eyes that Tarun felt intensely moved and spoke softly, ‘I take it from that look on your face that you miss him a lot…’
Bani did not answer but lowered her face so that Tarun couldn’t see the fast forming tears in her eyes. Keeping a steady hand over her own frail ones, he said emphatically, ‘You both are so different from each other…yet like mirror images…Jai would rather drown himself in his grief and all that alcohol he drinks than come and face you…and you would rather sit alone in this room and wallow in anguish & tears than ask someone for him. What is the problem with both of you?’
Bani had started sobbing quietly, unable to hold herself anymore, while Tarun lifted her face and looking into her said, ‘Bani…I can’t see my friend in this state anymore…he is killing himself…all he wants in this world is to be with you and please correct me if I am wrong, but I can sense something very similar with you also.’
‘Then why hasn’t he come even once to see me?’ Bani was now sobbing heavily, burying her face in the palms of her hand. Hearing the commotion, the others had come rushing to and were a witness to the conversation.
Tarun spoke unheeded, ‘I don’t know exactly why he hasn’t come to see you…but all that he can think of 24 by 7 is Bani, Bani and only Bani. His coming to the office is a mere formality…all he does is open his laptop and stare at your pictures…if I go to his apartment, either he is drunk senseless and uttering your name…or locked himself in a room for hours on end without any food or water…he responds to nothing and no one, but even a blind man can see that Jai badly needs you, Bani…’
Looking at her stunned face, Tarun continued in a gentler tone, ‘And please…before he ends up killing himself, either intentionally or accidentally…just go and bring him back to this world.’
Taking leave, Tarun smiled and said, ‘Jai has always been an obstinate man and sometimes acted foolishly too…and now such is his state, that he has become an obstinate fool who is desperately and dangerously in love…and since you are the sole reason of his fanatical obsession…no one else but you can get him back to his senses!’
Everyone took leave one after the other, till only Massi was left and asking the a reluctant Rano and Raashi to take leave, she closed the door from behind and came near Bani, who still sat stunned and numb on the bed, after hearing all that Tarun had just told her.
‘Massi…all that Tarunji just said…but…I thought he hated me…I lost his child…how can…’ Bani spoke, incoherently, not able to complete her words.
Massi patted her soft hair and spoke in gentle tones, ‘Ask your heart, Bani…did it convince you even once that Jai can hate you? That a man who put across all his misgivings, all his apprehensions, all his prejudices just for your happiness, could have the capacity to detest you?’
Taking in her tear strained face, Massi smiled through her own tears and said, ‘I admit that Jai has never once told me whether he loves you or not…but whenever I looked into his eyes, all I could see was immeasurable love for you, Bani…a love so deep, a love so pure, that no words or expression’s in the world could have the strength to carry them.’
Bani broke down crying on Massi’s shoulders who consoled her, ‘Nahin beta…don’t shed those tears…for what are you crying? You both are blessed to be loved with such depth and with such conviction…even when Jai is away from you, his love lives within you, just as yours lives with him…the fact that you long endlessly for Jai and he lives every moment for you is a living proof of your love. What else do you need to convince yourself of Bani?’
Part I G
Jai’s apartment
Despite remonstrations and apprehensions from Massi, Bani left Walia House when it was close to 9 Pm, making her promise that no one in the house will come to know of her absence. Though Tony looked very anxious at the fact that he was driving Bani away from home at this hour and that too when she had just started recovering her health, he could not refuse or even object, when she told him the address to where she wanted to go. Tony would have defied the Holy Orders when it came to doing anything for Jai’s sake.
‘Madam, 25th floor…Penthouse Suit D. Please give me a missed call when you want to drive back home…I will be waiting for you in the Car.’ Tony spoke respectfully, after dropping her at the Nariman Point Condominium where Jai was living now. Just as Tony closed the door of the Car after helping her come out, he said, trying to hide his smile, ‘If Jai sir is not at home, you can enter the apartment using his personal lock code…’
Bani turned to look at Tony, a bit puzzled and he explained quickly, albeit a bit embarrassed, ‘Er…sometimes, he is still asleep when I come in the morning to clear the apartment and make his breakfast…so he gave me that code to enter, incase he doesn’t respond to the doorbell.’
Bani correctly guessed that Tony was referring to Jai’s drunken inebriations which would probably explain his sleeping till late in the morning, something that Jai had never done in the past. She felt intensely saddened at Jai’s state and found herself desperately seeking to see him immediately, praying that he would be in.
‘What is the code?’ she asked softly.
Tony answered in the best possible professional tone, ‘B-A-N-I.’
A visibly stunned Bani colored immediately and without waiting to say anything more, walked towards the security gates of Jai’s building. The walk from the main gate till the elevator and the ride up seemed to increase Bani’s heartbeat rapidly and she kept twisting the edge of her sari and suddenly realized that she was wearing the same sari that Jai had gifted her a few months back.
‘The last door in the corridor, Madam. Mr. Walia’s apartment.’ Bani gave a nervous smile at the doorman who had accompanied her, since the elevator to the Penthouse Suits were exclusively only for the residents. Bowing very cordially to her, the doorman went down again, leaving Bani standing in front of Penthouse Suit D.
She found her hands trembling as they went up to press the doorbell and stayed on it, unmoved. She stood for sometime, beads of nervous sweat appearing on her face…more than 2 months had passed that she had last seen Jai…when he had thundered with anger…furious at the fact that she had taken on a job, despite the Doctor’s strict advice for bed-rest…how she had argued with him…answered him back…hurt him with her coldness…all that came back hauntingly to Bani and she found herself crying.
Bani was caught between the urge to go down again and rush back home, to hide herself in that guest room where she was staying and cry her heart out…she felt her courage giving way and even though all she wanted was to see Jai just once…somehow she became motionless.
It was only when she heard the sound of the elevator coming up again, that she panicked and in a frenzy, typed her name on the key-pad, clicking the door open. Pushing the heavy, chromium handle back, she entered the huge expanse of the apartment and stood stunned.
Even in the dim lights that gave the apartment an eerily glow, she could see scores and scores of her pictures on the wall…on the desk…on the coffee table…Bani stood staring at them…she didn’t even know when some of the pictures had been clicked. She could see one of her earliest, when she had just joined Walia Industries and had got a picture clicked for record in the HR Department…there was one from a group picnic…with a dimutive Bani standing far across from her then boss, Jai. Then there were some from the wedding ceremony…the wedding that wasn’t even meant for her…Jai had only put up pictures which had Bani in them…looking radiant and happy, preparing for her sister Pia’s marriage…then there was one picture of hers with Jai…the one that had been taken during the Press meet that Jai had called after their sudden marriage. Her entire life in the past one year came cascading infront of her, as she moved from one picture to another…each one of them drawing out Jai and her story in phases…the look of gloom and fear in some of the earlier pictures replaced by a shy and confused smile in others…and then the pictures where Bani had spotted a radiant glow that only love could give you…she stood staring at them, completely mesmerized and astounded that Jai had collected all those memories with so much care and never once expressed anything to her.
She was shaken out of her reverie when she heard the door click open and as she turned to face it, Jai came in, slumped, unshaven and intoxicated…but his entire persona underwent a drastic shock, when he saw her standing in the middle of his apartment room.
‘Bani?’ his voice came out like a lost whisper, like a dream he was seeing with open eyes.
To be continued...
Love,
R
PS : Incase you liked reading the first part and look foward to reading more, then fyi, I have already written the next part and after some editing work would be posting it by tomorrow morning!
PPS : Btw, unlike The Unfaithful, this story has a lot of mush...should make some of my readers happy!
Story Background : The story is set against the backdrop of the original Kasamh Se, taking on from the point where Jai and Bani are separated after the Park Road Raaz comes out and she loses her child during the murderous attack, when she tries to protect Jai’s life. Most of the characters remain the same as in the show, except that Raashi is married to Saahil and Rano and Ranveer are still single. Pia and Pushkar are seperated, and nothing has happened between Pia and Jai. Also, I haven’t gone into details of who tries to kill JW and ends up harming Bani instead…all that is just mentioned in passing. JW has come to know the truth about Bani’s miscarriage while she is still in the hospital. Now read on…
Part I A
For some strange, unexplained reason, Jai remembered the story of snow-white and the seven dwarfs. The particular scene that had caused him to cry out loud in the auditorium of his primary school, where Snow-white lay on her bed, pale and calm…as silent as the night.
Today, more than 35 years later, he could visualize the same scene again…when he saw Bani lying with the same chilling silence on the hospital bed, swathed in white robes and surrounded by what looked like a thousand medical apparatus. It was only till Massi’s comforting hand touched his shoulders, which made Jai to come to his own.
One look at Massi’s face and all the anguish and pain that had buried itself in Jai’s heart seemed to burst open like a dam and he broke down crying.
‘Munna...don’t cry like that. Don’t do that Jai…please…if you break into pieces, who will comfort her?’
Still sobbing, Jai replied back in a choked voice, ‘What comfort can I give her Massi? Its all because of me…I have given her nothing but my hatred and anger…and if she is here today, its only for me.’
Massi stood watching Jai dissolving in his guilt and pain and unable to hold herself back, she too broke down crying. ‘Beta, don’t blame yourself like that…it’s not your fault…just as it wasn’t Bani’s…it’s…its just destiny.’
Jai had stopped crying and repeated in an absent voice, ‘Yes, its destiny…I never believed in it…but now that I look back…it is the only explanation I have, for all that happened…the good and the bad.’
Massi patted Jai’s hair and spoke comfortingly, ‘Nothing is lost Jai…the Doctor has said that there is hope…and now, you know the truth also…lets just leave everything upon God to set things right once again.’
Jai sat in silence, lost in his thoughts, till Rano who had been standing in a corner, overhearing the conversation, came near him and kneeled in front of Jai. ‘Yes Jeejaji…nothing is lost…and I know that you and Bani di are just meant to be…Life will give you another chance.’
Jai looked at his youngest sister-in-law, who had tears in her eyes but a faint yet reassuring smile on her face and Massi, always optimistic and positive added, ‘And when life gives you and Bani that another chance, make sure that you grab it with both your hands and never let it go again.’
Part I B
‘She is out of danger, Mr. Walia.’
No other words could have given more peace to Jai than the ones just uttered by Dr. Mathur. He sat in stillness, waiting for the doctor to say something more, still anxious and terrified about his wife’s condition, not still fully believing that she was now going to live.
Dr. Mathur looked at Jai’s pale, drawn out face, his eyes had sunken, his cheekbones looked protruded and he looked like he could collapse just any moment. Clearing her throat, she said in a slightly light-hearted vein, ‘Your wife is on recovery, but you look like a wreck, Mr. Walia.’
Jai looked up at the Doctor and she spoke in a comforting tone, ‘I know you have been under grave mental distress…but if you ruin your health in this manner, who will take care of her…I hope you understand that she has literally come back from her own death…and it will take a long time for her to heal…physically and emotionally.’
Jai spoke, his deep voice, gravelly and pleading, ‘Can…Can I see her?’
Dr. Mathur took off her glasses and after a few moment’s silence spoke softly, ‘I…I am not sure, Mr. Walia. After all that you told me…regarding what happened between you and your wife…the manner in which it happened…she is in deep trauma…and has just begun responding to the medication…but is still in an emotional limbo…I am not sure, how she will react to your presence right away.’
Jai felt his broken heart shattering into further pieces on hearing this, but bracing up, he answered back, ‘I understand…I will just look at her from outside the ICU…but…will you tell me if she asks about me?’
Dr. Mathur was so touched by Jai’s pain and anguish over Bani, that she felt her eyes smarting and immediately summoned herself up to not get emotional about a patient’s personal life. In her best professional tones, she replied back, ‘Of course. And please don’t lose heart…everything will fall in the right place…just give it some time.’
Part I C
A sharp spasm of pain ran through Bani’s entire body, the moment she regained consciousness. Such was the intensity of pain in her lower abdomen that a cry escaped her bruised lips and tears came out involuntarily.
Rano who had fallen asleep, woke up with a startle and gasped when she saw Bani’s eyes open. ‘Di…’ she whispered, coming near her sister, holding on to her cold, frail fingers, finding it impossible to hold back her tears at seeing her sister’s condition, yet happiness filled her heart, at having Bani react for the first time in the last fifteen days since she had been brought to the hospital in a physically battered state.
Bani blinked her eyes and tried to focus on the voice and a faint smile came on to her face, when she recognized her youngest sister. Both of them looked at each other in silence, till Rano could hold no more and broke down crying copiously, keeping her head on the pillow on which Bani was resting.
Next Morning
Bani had been propped up a pillow and between Raashi and Rano, was getting a breakfast of apple juice poured into her mouth by spoonful.
Raashi tenderly wiped the stray drops that came onto to her lips and smiled warmly at Bani. ‘Are you feeling better than yesterday, Mamiji?’
Bani did not reply back but just kept sitting, expressionless. Both Rano and Raashi exchanged a look, indicating that it was still early days for them to expect any normal conversation from Bani.
They had just finished giving breakfast when Massi and Aditya came along. Aditya smiled warmly and spoke, ‘We are so happy that you are alright Bani…and that you are with your family again.’ Massi came near her, tears filling her eyes and planting a light kiss on Bani’s bandaged forehead, echoed the same sentiments.
By the time it was afternoon, Bani felt exhausted by the stream of visitors who had been coming. Pushkar had come alongside his family, followed by Nachiket who had actually ended up making Bani smile with his jokes and anecdotes. Ranveer had visited along with Saahil and Jigyasa, who looked wrought with guilt and concern over Bani’s state. The last person to come had been Pia, looking so heartbroken and so shaken, that even Rano had felt bad for her, considering that she had not been on speaking terms with Pia for a very long time now.
With the visiting hours over, the nurse had come and given medicines to Bani and put her off to sleep and in the silence of her room, Bani ended up crying for a long time over the one person whom she had been so desperate to see, but had not shown up till now. Maybe she deserved it…after all hadn’t she lost his most cherished dream because of her stubbornness and carelessness. Running her bruise laden hand over the empty stomach, Bani found it impossible to stop the stream of tears that seemed to have become her destiny now.
It was close to midnight, when Bani stirred slightly in her sleep. Maybe it was the effect of the sedatives and tranquilizers or the black memories of that gruesome assault on her that disturbed her sleep so badly. But she felt as if there was someone in the room…someone who was looking at her. Despite her best efforts, Bani found it impossible to open her eyes and focus in the darkness…but she could sense a definite presence…and strangely it did not make her feel afraid…rather it comforted her…made her desperate to open her eyes and see who that presence was.
When Bani awoke the next morning, she could see Rano standing nearby; measuring out the medicines that had to be given to Bani and Raashi was just entering the room getting breakfast for her from home. Nothing seemed unusual, till Bani turned her head to see a huge bouquet of white lilies placed on a vase besides her bed. She kept staring at the flowers, which looked slightly wilted, as if they had stayed a full night in the vase before the morning…a strange feeling escaped Bani…someone had been in the room last night…and there was just one person in the whole world who could have remembered that White Lilies were her favorite flowers.
Gasping for breath, Bani whispered in a broken, hoary voice, ‘Mr. Walia…was he there in this room?’ Rano and Raashi were so stunned by the fact that Bani had uttered her first words after coming out of the Coma, that they kept staring blankly at her for several moments, till Rano gushed in happiness, ‘Di…you spoke? I can’t believe this…wait till I tell Massi…and of course Dr. Mathur should be informed…and Pushkar will be so happy…and Nachiket will come running right now with Ranveer and Aditya Uncle…’
In the excitement pervading, Bani lost sense of what she wanted to ask and was stunned into silence again, staring at those wilted flowers…which still carried the deep, intense scene that distinguishes white lilies.
Part I D
1 Month Later
Jai had finished packing his suitcase and was putting his personal belongings in a separate bag, when Massi and Aditya entered his room.
‘Munna, why are you doing this? Now when everything has been set right…and Bani is coming back home…why are you leaving this house?’ Jai looked at Massi and Aditya’s anguished face and spoke quietly, ‘She has just recovered physically from that incident…but is completely broken down…seeing me would only remind her of that past more and more…its best that I stay away from her for as long as she takes to recover…and only when she asks for me, shall I come back.’
Jigyasa had come from behind and she said, both angry and sad, ‘Jai Bhaiyya, this is your house…why do you have to leave it?’ Jai stared at his sister and such was the reigned in fury in them, that Jigyasa shuddered and moved behind Aditya, as if for support against her brother’s anger.
‘If only you had shown this concern and this affection for me earlier on, Jigyasa…a lot of things that happened would have never happened in the first place…’ Looking at the hurt on Jigyasa face at his words, Jai spoke in a softer yet defeated tone, ‘Yet, there is no one to blame but me…My marriage and my wife were my responsibility and I failed them both miserably…so if anyone has to live with regret and pain, then its only me.’
Saying that Jai called Tony to take his packed belongings to the Car and he drove off to his empty apartment which was some distance away from Walia Mansion.
Two days Later
Pushkar held Bani’s hands and spoke with warmth and tenderness, ‘Bani, even though Pia and I are not together anymore, I hope that truth never come between our relationship…our friendship…and that is why I want you to know that you can come and stay with us anytime you want…if you don’t want to go back to Walia Mansion, I can…’
Bani smiled back at Pushkar and spoke with some effort, ‘I know that you care for me Pushkar…and that you will always be there for me…but I want to go back to my home…’
Pushkar patted her cheeks gingerly and smilingly added, ‘I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear that…besides, you know what a terrible cook Seema Bhabh is…’
Bani broke out laughing gently, joined in by Pushkar who continued regaling her with some more light-hearted words.
Jai stood outside the door watching both of them…till he felt too heartbroken to see Bani and not able to be near her, that he turned and stormed out of the hospital building, going straight inside his Car and keeping his head on the steering wheel, smarted under the tears of desperation and longing-ness that he felt for Bani.
Part I E
Walia Mansion
Bani was overcome by the love, affection and care that was lavished upon her, the moment she set her foot upon her married home. No one seemed to leave her without attendance for even a few minutes…be it Raashi’s labored ministrations over Bani’s food or Rano giving her medicines on the dot of time…or Massi reading out the Ramayan for her every morning or Dadi and Aditya cheering up Bani with their jovial talk. Nachiket never forgot to get fresh flowers for her daily to be placed by her bedside and even the usually reserved Ranveer, came and sat with Bani every evening after he came home from Office. Only Jigyasa and Saahil seemed to ignore her, but even they refrained from any of their usual rudeness or coldness towards Bani, just staying out of her room.
Bani responded to the medication and to the attention and love of her family faster than what Dr. Mathur had anticipated.
But an unfathomably deep pain lingered in Bani’s heart…it was more than a month since she was brutally attacked, thereby losing the child in her womb and getting grievously injured. Where was Jai? Why hadn’t he come to visit her even once? Why wasn’t anyone talking about him? Why couldn’t she see him at home or even hear his voice?
The only reason that Bani could think of was that Jai was extremely angry and broken up by the death of their child…and held her responsible. Hadn’t he kept begging her for the last few months of her pregnancy to take care of herself? Hadn’t he literally gone on his knees asking her not to risk the child’s life by staying all alone? Hadn’t he asked for her forgiveness over her mother’s death innumerable times, pleading her not to bargain their child’s future over what happened in the past?
And today, his deepest fear, his biggest apprehension, his greatest letdown had come true…Bani had lost the child that had been Jai’s dream and no one else, but she was responsible.
It was too late to give explanations…to tell Jai that she had long forgiven and forgotten about what happened 7 years back with her Mother…that the reason for her separation from Jai was something much more serious…that she had no go but to be blackmailed because his life was at stake…that she couldn’t tell him the truth because the very people who he loved and trusted were backstabbing him…that she had no other way out but to put her life to risk to save his.
Tears filled up her beautiful eyes…Jai had once told her that her eyes had the color of an autumn evening…and that they spoke everything that she couldn’t manage with words. Bani wondered why anyone would want to fall in love if it hurt so badly. Every memory about their short-lived marriage brought out such spasms of deep pain, that she wanted to cry her heart out for Jai. Even in those precious few months of her marriage, Bani had found the promise of a lifetime of love and affection from her husband…the man whom she worshipped before god…the man who had started filling the palette of her life with every possible color…and when she had begun seeing the love she had for him in his eyes too…destiny had played a cruel hand and everything had fallen apart…so much so that Bani did not even know where to look and start collecting the fragments of her broken life.
Part I F
Walia Industries
It was almost the fifth time that one of Aditya, Ranveer and Tarun had to fill in for Jai, as the client volleyed questions after questions. Jai was just physically present in the board room but it was evident that he was completely clueless about what was going on.
A look passed between the trio and Aditya, taking the lead as the senior director of Walia Industries, addressed the client, ‘So Mr. McWilliams, I hope we have resolved all the main issues…and if there are any minor details to be discussed, I propose you sort them over Lunch with our senior management executives, Ranveer Bali and Nachiket Walia.’
Before the very unhappy Mr. McWilliams could offer a protest, Ranveer and Nachiket very deftly ushered him out of the board room and took him for a business lunch.
Tarun looked on to Jai, who had his chin placed on his folded palms and was staring at his laptop, completely unaware of his surrounding. Adtiya looked on too and spoke gently yet with a tinge of frustration, ‘Jai…what is this? You called the McWilliams chap for a one to one meeting and didn’t answer even one of his questions…he looked furious…I wonder how those two boys are going to handle him…’
Getting no response from Jai, Aditya shook his head and indicated towards Tarun to say something. ‘Jai…Jai…are you even present in this room?’
ai looked blankly at his best friend and company lawyer and spoke almost nostalgically, ‘Bani came to this very board room on her first day in this office…I was in a meeting with my board of directors…Adi, do you remember? And when I saw her interrupting the presentation, I shouted so loudly, that the cup of coffee she had been holding for me fell from her hands…and she stood there shivering, tears filling in those beautiful eyes…till Pushkar went and gave her a tissue paper and helped her out of the room…I came to know later on that Gloria had asked her to get some coffee for me and that she had ended up burning her hands with the hot liquid…I had felt bad…but never bothered to apologize.’
Aditya felt so emotional on hearing the words, that he covered his face in the palms of his hands, feeling distraught at his friend’s mental state and Tarun looked extremely worried. Taking lead, Tarun spoke calmly, ‘Jai, stop doing this to yourself. For god sake, just look at you…work can be managed…we are all there…but please get a grip on yourself…and stop this self-punishment.’
Aditya looked up at his brother-in-law and added, ‘Tarun is right; Jai…stop blaming yourself for all that happened…what could you have done about it? It was just an unfortunate, unwanted accident…’
Suddenly getting agitated, Jai banged on the table and almost shouted out in a hoarse voice, choked with emotion, ‘I am her husband, Adi…I vowed to protect her…to take care of her…to always be with her…and when she wanted me the most…I wasn’t there…did you see her in that hospital bed? Did you see her Tarun? Did you see soaked in blood and writhing in unimaginable pain? Where was I then? Where was I when she was hit mercilessly by those bastards who wanted to kill me? Where was I when she was blackmailed into silence to protect my life? Where was I when she put her life into risk only so that nothing would happen to me?’
Stunned into silence, Tarun and Aditya stared on to Jai’s flushed face and blood red eyes and he spoke with ominous chill, ‘Every breath that I am taking now is a gift from her…a gift for which she had to put herself through a lifetime of pain and grief…how do you think I am going to continue living with the same life that she has given me?’
Saying that, Jai stormed off, leaving an aghast and shocked Tarun and Aditya speechless.
Walia Mansion
Raashi had helped change Bani into a Sari, something she was wearing after a very long gap. She had expressed her desire to wear one and Raashi had been so happy to see Bani expressing a wish, that she had immediately taken out Bani’s entire wardrobe and chosen the prettiest Sari in it.
‘There goes the gold chain in your neck…and Mamiji, I envy you so much for looking this beautiful…even though according to Dr. Mathur, you are anemic right now.’
Bani laughed alongside Raashi and was later joined in by Rano who announced that Tarun had come to meet her and could she get him to her room. Tarun came holding a huge bouquet of white lilies inside the room and before she could react, lurching forward dramatically, planted a light kiss on both her cheeks and said in all seriousness, ‘Please marry me, Bani!’
Seeing the look of utter shock in Bani, Raashi and Rano’s faces, he took a few steps back and putting his hands up said, ‘This is also called a joke in some cultures…and if any of you are going to slap me, I will take it in very good spirits.’
Bani found herself laughing uncontrollably for the next one hour, thoroughly embarrassed yet amused by Tarun’s outrageous flirting and jokes. In between, Tarun remarked, ‘Yaar, don’t laugh so much...I don’t want any of your surgical suchers falling off with all that laughing. Jai will hunt me down and cut me into pieces if anything happens to you.’
At the mention of his name, Bani’s expression immediately altered and a look of such yearning and love came over her eyes that Tarun felt intensely moved and spoke softly, ‘I take it from that look on your face that you miss him a lot…’
Bani did not answer but lowered her face so that Tarun couldn’t see the fast forming tears in her eyes. Keeping a steady hand over her own frail ones, he said emphatically, ‘You both are so different from each other…yet like mirror images…Jai would rather drown himself in his grief and all that alcohol he drinks than come and face you…and you would rather sit alone in this room and wallow in anguish & tears than ask someone for him. What is the problem with both of you?’
Bani had started sobbing quietly, unable to hold herself anymore, while Tarun lifted her face and looking into her said, ‘Bani…I can’t see my friend in this state anymore…he is killing himself…all he wants in this world is to be with you and please correct me if I am wrong, but I can sense something very similar with you also.’
‘Then why hasn’t he come even once to see me?’ Bani was now sobbing heavily, burying her face in the palms of her hand. Hearing the commotion, the others had come rushing to and were a witness to the conversation.
Tarun spoke unheeded, ‘I don’t know exactly why he hasn’t come to see you…but all that he can think of 24 by 7 is Bani, Bani and only Bani. His coming to the office is a mere formality…all he does is open his laptop and stare at your pictures…if I go to his apartment, either he is drunk senseless and uttering your name…or locked himself in a room for hours on end without any food or water…he responds to nothing and no one, but even a blind man can see that Jai badly needs you, Bani…’
Looking at her stunned face, Tarun continued in a gentler tone, ‘And please…before he ends up killing himself, either intentionally or accidentally…just go and bring him back to this world.’
Taking leave, Tarun smiled and said, ‘Jai has always been an obstinate man and sometimes acted foolishly too…and now such is his state, that he has become an obstinate fool who is desperately and dangerously in love…and since you are the sole reason of his fanatical obsession…no one else but you can get him back to his senses!’
Everyone took leave one after the other, till only Massi was left and asking the a reluctant Rano and Raashi to take leave, she closed the door from behind and came near Bani, who still sat stunned and numb on the bed, after hearing all that Tarun had just told her.
‘Massi…all that Tarunji just said…but…I thought he hated me…I lost his child…how can…’ Bani spoke, incoherently, not able to complete her words.
Massi patted her soft hair and spoke in gentle tones, ‘Ask your heart, Bani…did it convince you even once that Jai can hate you? That a man who put across all his misgivings, all his apprehensions, all his prejudices just for your happiness, could have the capacity to detest you?’
Taking in her tear strained face, Massi smiled through her own tears and said, ‘I admit that Jai has never once told me whether he loves you or not…but whenever I looked into his eyes, all I could see was immeasurable love for you, Bani…a love so deep, a love so pure, that no words or expression’s in the world could have the strength to carry them.’
Bani broke down crying on Massi’s shoulders who consoled her, ‘Nahin beta…don’t shed those tears…for what are you crying? You both are blessed to be loved with such depth and with such conviction…even when Jai is away from you, his love lives within you, just as yours lives with him…the fact that you long endlessly for Jai and he lives every moment for you is a living proof of your love. What else do you need to convince yourself of Bani?’
Part I G
Jai’s apartment
Despite remonstrations and apprehensions from Massi, Bani left Walia House when it was close to 9 Pm, making her promise that no one in the house will come to know of her absence. Though Tony looked very anxious at the fact that he was driving Bani away from home at this hour and that too when she had just started recovering her health, he could not refuse or even object, when she told him the address to where she wanted to go. Tony would have defied the Holy Orders when it came to doing anything for Jai’s sake.
‘Madam, 25th floor…Penthouse Suit D. Please give me a missed call when you want to drive back home…I will be waiting for you in the Car.’ Tony spoke respectfully, after dropping her at the Nariman Point Condominium where Jai was living now. Just as Tony closed the door of the Car after helping her come out, he said, trying to hide his smile, ‘If Jai sir is not at home, you can enter the apartment using his personal lock code…’
Bani turned to look at Tony, a bit puzzled and he explained quickly, albeit a bit embarrassed, ‘Er…sometimes, he is still asleep when I come in the morning to clear the apartment and make his breakfast…so he gave me that code to enter, incase he doesn’t respond to the doorbell.’
Bani correctly guessed that Tony was referring to Jai’s drunken inebriations which would probably explain his sleeping till late in the morning, something that Jai had never done in the past. She felt intensely saddened at Jai’s state and found herself desperately seeking to see him immediately, praying that he would be in.
‘What is the code?’ she asked softly.
Tony answered in the best possible professional tone, ‘B-A-N-I.’
A visibly stunned Bani colored immediately and without waiting to say anything more, walked towards the security gates of Jai’s building. The walk from the main gate till the elevator and the ride up seemed to increase Bani’s heartbeat rapidly and she kept twisting the edge of her sari and suddenly realized that she was wearing the same sari that Jai had gifted her a few months back.
‘The last door in the corridor, Madam. Mr. Walia’s apartment.’ Bani gave a nervous smile at the doorman who had accompanied her, since the elevator to the Penthouse Suits were exclusively only for the residents. Bowing very cordially to her, the doorman went down again, leaving Bani standing in front of Penthouse Suit D.
She found her hands trembling as they went up to press the doorbell and stayed on it, unmoved. She stood for sometime, beads of nervous sweat appearing on her face…more than 2 months had passed that she had last seen Jai…when he had thundered with anger…furious at the fact that she had taken on a job, despite the Doctor’s strict advice for bed-rest…how she had argued with him…answered him back…hurt him with her coldness…all that came back hauntingly to Bani and she found herself crying.
Bani was caught between the urge to go down again and rush back home, to hide herself in that guest room where she was staying and cry her heart out…she felt her courage giving way and even though all she wanted was to see Jai just once…somehow she became motionless.
It was only when she heard the sound of the elevator coming up again, that she panicked and in a frenzy, typed her name on the key-pad, clicking the door open. Pushing the heavy, chromium handle back, she entered the huge expanse of the apartment and stood stunned.
Even in the dim lights that gave the apartment an eerily glow, she could see scores and scores of her pictures on the wall…on the desk…on the coffee table…Bani stood staring at them…she didn’t even know when some of the pictures had been clicked. She could see one of her earliest, when she had just joined Walia Industries and had got a picture clicked for record in the HR Department…there was one from a group picnic…with a dimutive Bani standing far across from her then boss, Jai. Then there were some from the wedding ceremony…the wedding that wasn’t even meant for her…Jai had only put up pictures which had Bani in them…looking radiant and happy, preparing for her sister Pia’s marriage…then there was one picture of hers with Jai…the one that had been taken during the Press meet that Jai had called after their sudden marriage. Her entire life in the past one year came cascading infront of her, as she moved from one picture to another…each one of them drawing out Jai and her story in phases…the look of gloom and fear in some of the earlier pictures replaced by a shy and confused smile in others…and then the pictures where Bani had spotted a radiant glow that only love could give you…she stood staring at them, completely mesmerized and astounded that Jai had collected all those memories with so much care and never once expressed anything to her.
She was shaken out of her reverie when she heard the door click open and as she turned to face it, Jai came in, slumped, unshaven and intoxicated…but his entire persona underwent a drastic shock, when he saw her standing in the middle of his apartment room.
‘Bani?’ his voice came out like a lost whisper, like a dream he was seeing with open eyes.
To be continued...
Love,
R
PS : Incase you liked reading the first part and look foward to reading more, then fyi, I have already written the next part and after some editing work would be posting it by tomorrow morning!
PPS : Btw, unlike The Unfaithful, this story has a lot of mush...should make some of my readers happy!
Part 2 A
Just as it had always been, words became futile, when Jai and Bani came face to face once again, after a long time…and a time which had been the most emotionally and physically demanding on them. Jai tried to focus his bleary eyes, not sure if she was actually present or he was hallucinating.
Bani stood frozen staring at her husband, shocked by the change that had come over him. He looked so broken and so helpless, that her heart cried out in anguish and despair. Why had she let go of her marriage so easily? Why had she let an incident of the past cloud her emotions and feelings for Jai? Why had she assumed that Jai had never loved her and could possibly never love her? Why hadn’t she listened to her heart even once?
Too many memories were coming back, good and bad, too many old emotions stirred deeply within her. She had walked out on her marriage but she had never stopped loving her husband for even a single moment. And she knew now that she never would. But learn to live with it? Every moment that she saw him only made that seem more impossible.
Jai took a few steps forward, missing the steps that led to the living area from the front door and stumbled forward, losing his balance. In a reflex action, Bani lurched forward to support him and he came to fall on her, instantly holding her in his arms to avoid making her fall with his body weight.
Bani found her moist eyes closing in the warmth and security of his embrace…resting her head on his chest, she wept softly, not able to meet his eyes any longer and not wanting this moment to ever end.
‘Please tell me this is not a dream, Bani…’ his voice came out slightly unsteady and his face looked staggered, not believing that his wife was actually in his arms.
Bani lifted her head and gazed up at his face…he seemed to have aged a few years, the bright intensity in his eyes looked dim and the energy from his body seemed to have been sapped out. Caressing his unshaven jaw line with her soft palms, she spoke haltingly, ‘And if it is a dream, then I don’t want it to break…’
Jai drew her slowly further close to him, his eyes holding hers. She was already trembling with anticipation even before he lowered his head to find her lips, touching them gently, with exquisite tenderness, like a mortal allowed to sip the nectar of the gods.
His fingers gripped her waist so tightly that they bruised her skin, but she didn’t feeli it; her hands were on his head, in his hair, holding his mouth against her own, drowning in his kisses. But then Jai broke away, holding her by the length of his arms, his hands gripping her shoulders. His breath was uneven, panting, his mouth parted, and she could feel the beating of his heart. But it was his eyes that held her. They were so full of triumphant happiness, like a man who had found his long-sought for grail and claimed it for his own. Suddenly he dropped his hands to her waist and lifted her high off the ground, they swung her around in giddy circles. ‘I love you!’ he shouted. ‘I love you, Bani.’
And the vast expanse of the room that surrounded them took up his cry, echoing one off another, until the air was full of its mad peal. And Bani’s ears filled with his avowal, ‘I love you. I love you, Bani.’
She cried a little then, from happiness, and he kissed her tears away. ‘I don’t deserve this.’
But Jai looked at her and said intently. ‘You deserve everything you’re going to get, Bani…everything!’
A remark that made her blush crimson and yet light her eyes with unfathomable happiness.
Coming closer to her, Jai lifted a tendril off her cheeks and looking lovingly into her face whispered softly, ‘Light attaches to you in whichever corner of the world you might be Bani…’
They spent the rest of the night in each other’s arms, comforting and supportive…talking about what had happened…Jai kissed away all of Bani’s tears when she broke down crying helplessly, while recounting how she had survived the brutal attack that had led to her miscarriage. Jai held her close to his chest, comforting her through the emotional breakdown, not telling her anything about the fact that he had hunted down the attackers and given them a chilling retribution for laying hand on his wife and child. Jai did not want to rake up the talk of past anymore…all that he cared for was that the woman he loved was alive and was with him…everything else blurred in front of his new found happiness.
It was close to midnight when Bani woke up with a start. She had fallen asleep with her head on Jai’s chest, both of them slumped against the huge couch in the living room.
‘What happened?’ he asked her with the kind of softness in his eyes and voice that she hadn’t seen for ages. Looking slightly disoriented, she lifted her head and looked around the room, blinking her eyes, still a bit unbelieving that she was actually with her husband…so up close with him and that he had just told her that he loved her…the fact that happiness could come back to her life once again astounded Bani into a state of motionlessness.
‘Bani…are you okay?’ Jai place his finger under her chin, lifting her puzzled looking face…which was still the most beautiful face in the whole world, despite the unhealed bruises on them…since love was giving her whole self a surreal, divine glow.
‘I…Massi must be wondering what is taking me so long…and Tony…he would be waiting downstairs.’ Looking at him for some kind of support, she asked in a puzzled child like manner, ‘Should I go back there?’
An amused expression flirted on Jai’s face and hiding his grin he asked with seriousness, ‘Go where?’
‘Home…’ she spoke hesitatingly, not sure if Walia House was her home…since her husband was living somewhere else.
Jai could himself back no longer and burst out laughing wildly, taking Bani aback…when he had controlled his laughter, he looked into her flushed face and spoke lovingly, ‘You are so shy…that you can’t even tell your own husband that you want to stay here with me…and instead you are asking me where you should go now?’
Feeling extremely shy and awkward at Jai’s teasing, Bani felt herself fumbling with her words, remembering the passionate and long drawn kiss they had just shared…even though they had been married for almost 6 months before they had got separated, there was never any physical intimacy between them…except for that one night…the memories of which still made Bani aglow from head to toe. And now she felt extremely shy and bashful in his presence, all the sudden, feeling like a newly married.
Not able to take Jai’s intense look and the passion in his eyes, she quickly hid her face in his chest once again, so that she wouldn’t have to face him anymore.
There was no reaction from him for sometime and Bani wondered if she could lift her hot, flushed face and just run away to Walia Mansion, more out of the extreme awkwardness of the situation than any desire to go away from Jai.
He interrupted her thoughts by a simple line that stunned her completely.
‘Will you start a new journey with me once again, Bani?’
She looked up at him, there was no teasing, no flirting and no amusement in his eyes…instead was such sincerity and such love that she felt physically touched by his emotions for her.
She kept staring at him, till he smiled faintly and said, ‘Our past is behind us…and even though I can’t promise to keep you happy for the rest of our lives…I can promise upon my life that I will never become the reason of your sorrow and pain again…and even if I have to move mountains, I will never let anyone or anything ever bring tears in those eyes.’
Bani had stood up by now and Jai came close to her, gazing at her face for some time, till he surprised her by dropping onto his knees and taking a white lily from a nearby vase, looked up at her and said simply, ‘Will you marry me Bani?’
Tears streaming down her pale cheeks, which were flushed beyond comprehension, she bent down to reach his level and taking the flower from his hand, hugged him tightly and said, in between incessant crying, ‘A thousand times over…’
Part 2 B
‘Unbelievable…’ announced a dramatically stunned looking Tarun.
Jai gave a smug look and tried to hide his grin, feeling a bit embarrassed at the attention he had unwittingly ended up getting after he had broken the news to Aditya and Tarun in the Office.
‘So you get to marry the same woman twice over…and I am still a bachelor…’
Aditya who looked astounded himself, joined in, ‘Tarun you are still better off…look at me…my brother-in-law is getting married for the second time over…and I am still a divorcee...’
Jai colored slightly and giving them both a stern look said, ‘Will you both stop clowning around and get back to work? I need to set up a meeting with McWilliams asap. Lets call Ranveer and Nachiket to get a feedback on their last meeting with him.’
Tarun shrugged his head and said, ‘To hell with McWilliams…first tell us all about the proposal…did you go down on your knees…did you give her a ring…’
Aditya chimed in enthusiastically, ‘Did you play some music? Did you sing a song for her? Was she taken aback?’
Jai gave both his best friends a look and said as seriously as he could manage, ‘Well, firstly, it’s none of your bloody business…and secondly, we are on the verge of losing one of our most important clients…boys, get back to work! Please!’
Tarun and Aditya both burst out laughing, noticing the tinge of red that had conspicuously appeared on both sides of his tanned cheeks.
‘You are blushing…’ screamed Tarun, laughing uncontrollably, only to be joined in by Aditya who said, ‘Where the hell is my Camera…this is a Kodak moment…Tarun, we can give a picture of Jai blushing like a teenager to Bani as her wedding gift…’
Jai couldn’t hold back his laughter anymore and rubbing an agitated hand through his hair, remarked to both of them, ‘Get lost you both…and stop pulling my leg. Your voice will be heard all over the office…’
Just then Nachiket and Ranveer came in and even though both of them held Jai in far too much respect and awe to joke alongside him, even they couldn’t control themselves over the ribbing that Jai was getting from both his best friends.
‘Did you hear Nachiket? Your brother is getting back your Bhabhi home…and shame on you for not even finding a girlfriend for yourself till now!’
Nachiket grinned widely at Aditya’s joke and addressing Jai, spoke affectionately, ‘Congratulations Bhaiyya…I can’t tell you how happy I am…for both you and Bhabhi.’
Ranveer added with a quiet smile, ‘Congratulations Mamaji…’
Jai felt suddenly conscious of himself and trying not to fluster himself anymore and become the target of Aditya and Tarun’s teasing, he ushered everyone to get back to work…now that he had Bani back in his life, Jai’s focus had reverted back with all seriousness to his work, that he had been neglecting severely for the last few months.
Walia Mansion
‘Di, what did you both talk about? Did he tell you how much he had missed you? Did he hug you? Did you both kiss? Did you both…’
Bani blushed crimson and kept a finger on Rano’s lips and spoke in a low voice, ‘Ssssh…someone will hear you Rano…’
Rano laughed and said, ‘So what are you thinking then? That you two will get married again and no one here would come to know? Massi is already making preparations…and Raashi and I are so excited…all the trousseau shopping, dancing, singing, laughing, teasing…’
Looking at the expression on Bani’s face, she took her sister’s face in her hands and said lovingly, ‘You are going to live your dream for the second time over…and this time…there will only be happiness and love in your marriage…no ghosts of the past will come between you and Mr. Walia.’
Bani paused for sometime before speaking in her soft tone, ‘Where is Pia?’
Rano looked disgruntled at the mention of their sister’s name and said, ‘Why do you keep getting her in between? And now especially, when everything is falling into place once again…and please don’t forget how awkward Mr. Walia is going to feel if she is around when you two get married.’
‘She is our sister Rano…after Ma’s death, I took care of both of you like my own children…how can I ever leave her out of my life?’
Rano shrugged her head despondently and remarked back, ‘I know all that…but things have changed Di…and I know that you will never to anything that might cause hurt to the person whom you love the most…and seeing Pia at this time is not going to make Mr. Walia happy.’
Bani was silenced for sometime till Raashi came chiming in, ‘Mamiji…the wedding date has been fixed on the 22nd of this month…that’s just a fortnight later…’
Both Bani and Rano looked stunned at Raashi who stared back at them and said, ‘What happened?’ And then added teasingly, ‘Is it too long to wait for you?’
Bani spoke in a slow manner, ‘No…its…it’s the date of our wedding anniversary also…’
Raashi was taken aback and spoke in a knowing manner, ‘So that is why Jai Mamaji chose this date of the entire one’s that Massi had suggested?’
Rano and Raashi had no end of teasing Bani for the rest of the evening, refusing to let even call up Jai, saying that no one will allow them to meet or even talk till the wedding ceremony happens.
Part 2 C
Jai’s Apartment
‘This is ridiculous…why can’t I meet my own wife?’ Jai sounded severely annoyed as he banged the phone down, which he had made to Walia Mansion to speak with Bani, but was met with a strict warning by Massi that till the wedding takes place, he should not come to Walia House and definitely not try and meet up with Bani.
‘Well technically buddy…she is no longer your wife…because you both ended up signing the divorce papers which are lying in my office…and till you get married again, you cannot officially call her your wife.’
Jai turned to give a very cross look at Tarun who was munching on to an Apple with delight, reveling in his friend’s desperate situation.
‘Who the hell asked for your comments?’
‘How rude and how ungrateful! If not for me, you would have become a full blown Jaidas by now…singing songs in your Bani’s memories…and its really sad because you have an awful singing voice.’
Jai took a cushion and aimed it sharply at Tarun’s head, who had fallen off the couch, laughing wildly.
‘You did nothing great…I would have anyway gone to her and sorted out everything…’
Tarun raised his eyebrows and said, ‘Yeah sure…for someone who took ages coming to terms with the fact that you were in love…sure you would have gone and sorted things out…Jai, you might be the brightest entrepreneurial mind we have amongst us, but when it comes to the matter of heart, you are sadly miles behind…’
‘Will you shut up or should I throw you out of the window?’
Tarun grinned in response and said, ‘and if you land in jail, your poor bride will be kept waiting at the aisle…now you wouldn’t want to do something like that to Bani, right?’
Jai laughed out in frustration and said, ‘It’s my mistake that I set to argue with a lawyer…so okay, you win…’
Tarun refused to give in and said, ‘And you agree that it’s only because of me that Bani is back in your life?’
Jai spoke in a passionate voice, ‘No. She is back in my life, because she always belonged there…and will always be there.’
Tarun raised his hands in reconciliation and said, ‘You win the final round, Mr. Walia and get to keep your queen also!’
Later At Night
Bani who was still taking medicines slept soundly at night because of the sedatives and it took several rings for her to pick up the phone near her bedside.
‘Tell me that you were dreaming of me and that is why your sleep took so long to break?’ Jai was leaning back on the couch and smiling as he had called up Bani at night, assured that everyone would be fast asleep at Walia Mansion.
‘Huh…’ Bani’s voice sounded groggy as she tried to orient herself and recognizing Jai’s voice, felt her cheeks go a bit hot.
‘Aap…this time at night? Is everything fine?’
‘No…it’s not actually…’
Bani panicked and getting up on the bed said, ‘What happened? Are you feeling ill? Did you ring the doctor? Did you take your medicines after dinner?’
Jai answered back in a languorous tone, ‘It’s to do with my heart…Bani…’
Bani’s voice was now completely panic stricken and she said, ‘Your heart? What happened? Is it paining? Are you having palpitations? Is your heartbeat increased?’
Laughing at her concern and franticness over him, he replied back in flirtatious tone, ‘All that and much more! But not because of any medical reasons…It has to do with the fact that I have fallen in love for the first time so late in life…hence I think my heart is working a bit overtime to keep up with all those feelings that I have for you.’
Bani blushed to the root of her hair and found herself going speechless. She had always known her husband to be the quietest man she had ever known…a man of very few words…and to hear him express his feelings in such a blatant manner completely rattled Bani.
Trying to recover the overwhelming sense of shyness she felt, Bani spoke bashfully, ‘Did you call me at this time to say all this?’
‘Since we are getting married for the second time, I wanted it to be a love marriage…and I was just doing the courtship bit…’
Bani started laughing and said, ‘I can’t believe that you could speak like this…’
‘You will be subjected to a lot of surprises this time round, Bani…’
Bani felt herself going hot and cold on the manner that Jai had just said those words and fumbling with the instrument she said hurriedly, ‘I have to keep the phone…Rano is sleeping with me…she might wake up…’
‘Keep counting every moment till we meet again for the next 7 life’s…’
Bani felt her eyes going moist and after a moment’s hesitation, spoke with extreme diffidence, ‘Suniye...’
Jai answered back in the same tone, ‘Kahiye…’
They both started laughing till Bani said almost inaudibly, ‘I love you, Mr. Walia…’
‘You sound like you are wishing me to get well soon, Bani…we are not in my office and you are not my employee any longer…’
Bani tried to suppress her blushing and giggling, not wanting to wake up Rano and get teased by her also.
Jai braced up in a matter of fact tone and said, ‘Next when we both are alone…and that I think will only be during our wedding night…I want you to call me by my name…’
Bani gasped a bit and said, ‘I can’t…’
Jai answered back with a hint of wickedness in his voice, ‘Then I won’t let you out of our room till you call me Jai…you better face everyone alone when asks you why you were up so long in the morning.’
Bani’s cheeks were a flaming red now and all she could say on the phone before collapsing on her pillow with happiness was, ‘Good night…and take your medicines on time…and don’t drink please…and call me up tomorrow also…and…’
Jai laughed and cutting in short said, ‘And yes, I love you lots too!’
To be continued...
Love,
R
PS: Thanks for all your comments, guys!
Just as it had always been, words became futile, when Jai and Bani came face to face once again, after a long time…and a time which had been the most emotionally and physically demanding on them. Jai tried to focus his bleary eyes, not sure if she was actually present or he was hallucinating.
Bani stood frozen staring at her husband, shocked by the change that had come over him. He looked so broken and so helpless, that her heart cried out in anguish and despair. Why had she let go of her marriage so easily? Why had she let an incident of the past cloud her emotions and feelings for Jai? Why had she assumed that Jai had never loved her and could possibly never love her? Why hadn’t she listened to her heart even once?
Too many memories were coming back, good and bad, too many old emotions stirred deeply within her. She had walked out on her marriage but she had never stopped loving her husband for even a single moment. And she knew now that she never would. But learn to live with it? Every moment that she saw him only made that seem more impossible.
Jai took a few steps forward, missing the steps that led to the living area from the front door and stumbled forward, losing his balance. In a reflex action, Bani lurched forward to support him and he came to fall on her, instantly holding her in his arms to avoid making her fall with his body weight.
Bani found her moist eyes closing in the warmth and security of his embrace…resting her head on his chest, she wept softly, not able to meet his eyes any longer and not wanting this moment to ever end.
‘Please tell me this is not a dream, Bani…’ his voice came out slightly unsteady and his face looked staggered, not believing that his wife was actually in his arms.
Bani lifted her head and gazed up at his face…he seemed to have aged a few years, the bright intensity in his eyes looked dim and the energy from his body seemed to have been sapped out. Caressing his unshaven jaw line with her soft palms, she spoke haltingly, ‘And if it is a dream, then I don’t want it to break…’
Jai drew her slowly further close to him, his eyes holding hers. She was already trembling with anticipation even before he lowered his head to find her lips, touching them gently, with exquisite tenderness, like a mortal allowed to sip the nectar of the gods.
His fingers gripped her waist so tightly that they bruised her skin, but she didn’t feeli it; her hands were on his head, in his hair, holding his mouth against her own, drowning in his kisses. But then Jai broke away, holding her by the length of his arms, his hands gripping her shoulders. His breath was uneven, panting, his mouth parted, and she could feel the beating of his heart. But it was his eyes that held her. They were so full of triumphant happiness, like a man who had found his long-sought for grail and claimed it for his own. Suddenly he dropped his hands to her waist and lifted her high off the ground, they swung her around in giddy circles. ‘I love you!’ he shouted. ‘I love you, Bani.’
And the vast expanse of the room that surrounded them took up his cry, echoing one off another, until the air was full of its mad peal. And Bani’s ears filled with his avowal, ‘I love you. I love you, Bani.’
She cried a little then, from happiness, and he kissed her tears away. ‘I don’t deserve this.’
But Jai looked at her and said intently. ‘You deserve everything you’re going to get, Bani…everything!’
A remark that made her blush crimson and yet light her eyes with unfathomable happiness.
Coming closer to her, Jai lifted a tendril off her cheeks and looking lovingly into her face whispered softly, ‘Light attaches to you in whichever corner of the world you might be Bani…’
They spent the rest of the night in each other’s arms, comforting and supportive…talking about what had happened…Jai kissed away all of Bani’s tears when she broke down crying helplessly, while recounting how she had survived the brutal attack that had led to her miscarriage. Jai held her close to his chest, comforting her through the emotional breakdown, not telling her anything about the fact that he had hunted down the attackers and given them a chilling retribution for laying hand on his wife and child. Jai did not want to rake up the talk of past anymore…all that he cared for was that the woman he loved was alive and was with him…everything else blurred in front of his new found happiness.
It was close to midnight when Bani woke up with a start. She had fallen asleep with her head on Jai’s chest, both of them slumped against the huge couch in the living room.
‘What happened?’ he asked her with the kind of softness in his eyes and voice that she hadn’t seen for ages. Looking slightly disoriented, she lifted her head and looked around the room, blinking her eyes, still a bit unbelieving that she was actually with her husband…so up close with him and that he had just told her that he loved her…the fact that happiness could come back to her life once again astounded Bani into a state of motionlessness.
‘Bani…are you okay?’ Jai place his finger under her chin, lifting her puzzled looking face…which was still the most beautiful face in the whole world, despite the unhealed bruises on them…since love was giving her whole self a surreal, divine glow.
‘I…Massi must be wondering what is taking me so long…and Tony…he would be waiting downstairs.’ Looking at him for some kind of support, she asked in a puzzled child like manner, ‘Should I go back there?’
An amused expression flirted on Jai’s face and hiding his grin he asked with seriousness, ‘Go where?’
‘Home…’ she spoke hesitatingly, not sure if Walia House was her home…since her husband was living somewhere else.
Jai could himself back no longer and burst out laughing wildly, taking Bani aback…when he had controlled his laughter, he looked into her flushed face and spoke lovingly, ‘You are so shy…that you can’t even tell your own husband that you want to stay here with me…and instead you are asking me where you should go now?’
Feeling extremely shy and awkward at Jai’s teasing, Bani felt herself fumbling with her words, remembering the passionate and long drawn kiss they had just shared…even though they had been married for almost 6 months before they had got separated, there was never any physical intimacy between them…except for that one night…the memories of which still made Bani aglow from head to toe. And now she felt extremely shy and bashful in his presence, all the sudden, feeling like a newly married.
Not able to take Jai’s intense look and the passion in his eyes, she quickly hid her face in his chest once again, so that she wouldn’t have to face him anymore.
There was no reaction from him for sometime and Bani wondered if she could lift her hot, flushed face and just run away to Walia Mansion, more out of the extreme awkwardness of the situation than any desire to go away from Jai.
He interrupted her thoughts by a simple line that stunned her completely.
‘Will you start a new journey with me once again, Bani?’
She looked up at him, there was no teasing, no flirting and no amusement in his eyes…instead was such sincerity and such love that she felt physically touched by his emotions for her.
She kept staring at him, till he smiled faintly and said, ‘Our past is behind us…and even though I can’t promise to keep you happy for the rest of our lives…I can promise upon my life that I will never become the reason of your sorrow and pain again…and even if I have to move mountains, I will never let anyone or anything ever bring tears in those eyes.’
Bani had stood up by now and Jai came close to her, gazing at her face for some time, till he surprised her by dropping onto his knees and taking a white lily from a nearby vase, looked up at her and said simply, ‘Will you marry me Bani?’
Tears streaming down her pale cheeks, which were flushed beyond comprehension, she bent down to reach his level and taking the flower from his hand, hugged him tightly and said, in between incessant crying, ‘A thousand times over…’
Part 2 B
‘Unbelievable…’ announced a dramatically stunned looking Tarun.
Jai gave a smug look and tried to hide his grin, feeling a bit embarrassed at the attention he had unwittingly ended up getting after he had broken the news to Aditya and Tarun in the Office.
‘So you get to marry the same woman twice over…and I am still a bachelor…’
Aditya who looked astounded himself, joined in, ‘Tarun you are still better off…look at me…my brother-in-law is getting married for the second time over…and I am still a divorcee...’
Jai colored slightly and giving them both a stern look said, ‘Will you both stop clowning around and get back to work? I need to set up a meeting with McWilliams asap. Lets call Ranveer and Nachiket to get a feedback on their last meeting with him.’
Tarun shrugged his head and said, ‘To hell with McWilliams…first tell us all about the proposal…did you go down on your knees…did you give her a ring…’
Aditya chimed in enthusiastically, ‘Did you play some music? Did you sing a song for her? Was she taken aback?’
Jai gave both his best friends a look and said as seriously as he could manage, ‘Well, firstly, it’s none of your bloody business…and secondly, we are on the verge of losing one of our most important clients…boys, get back to work! Please!’
Tarun and Aditya both burst out laughing, noticing the tinge of red that had conspicuously appeared on both sides of his tanned cheeks.
‘You are blushing…’ screamed Tarun, laughing uncontrollably, only to be joined in by Aditya who said, ‘Where the hell is my Camera…this is a Kodak moment…Tarun, we can give a picture of Jai blushing like a teenager to Bani as her wedding gift…’
Jai couldn’t hold back his laughter anymore and rubbing an agitated hand through his hair, remarked to both of them, ‘Get lost you both…and stop pulling my leg. Your voice will be heard all over the office…’
Just then Nachiket and Ranveer came in and even though both of them held Jai in far too much respect and awe to joke alongside him, even they couldn’t control themselves over the ribbing that Jai was getting from both his best friends.
‘Did you hear Nachiket? Your brother is getting back your Bhabhi home…and shame on you for not even finding a girlfriend for yourself till now!’
Nachiket grinned widely at Aditya’s joke and addressing Jai, spoke affectionately, ‘Congratulations Bhaiyya…I can’t tell you how happy I am…for both you and Bhabhi.’
Ranveer added with a quiet smile, ‘Congratulations Mamaji…’
Jai felt suddenly conscious of himself and trying not to fluster himself anymore and become the target of Aditya and Tarun’s teasing, he ushered everyone to get back to work…now that he had Bani back in his life, Jai’s focus had reverted back with all seriousness to his work, that he had been neglecting severely for the last few months.
Walia Mansion
‘Di, what did you both talk about? Did he tell you how much he had missed you? Did he hug you? Did you both kiss? Did you both…’
Bani blushed crimson and kept a finger on Rano’s lips and spoke in a low voice, ‘Ssssh…someone will hear you Rano…’
Rano laughed and said, ‘So what are you thinking then? That you two will get married again and no one here would come to know? Massi is already making preparations…and Raashi and I are so excited…all the trousseau shopping, dancing, singing, laughing, teasing…’
Looking at the expression on Bani’s face, she took her sister’s face in her hands and said lovingly, ‘You are going to live your dream for the second time over…and this time…there will only be happiness and love in your marriage…no ghosts of the past will come between you and Mr. Walia.’
Bani paused for sometime before speaking in her soft tone, ‘Where is Pia?’
Rano looked disgruntled at the mention of their sister’s name and said, ‘Why do you keep getting her in between? And now especially, when everything is falling into place once again…and please don’t forget how awkward Mr. Walia is going to feel if she is around when you two get married.’
‘She is our sister Rano…after Ma’s death, I took care of both of you like my own children…how can I ever leave her out of my life?’
Rano shrugged her head despondently and remarked back, ‘I know all that…but things have changed Di…and I know that you will never to anything that might cause hurt to the person whom you love the most…and seeing Pia at this time is not going to make Mr. Walia happy.’
Bani was silenced for sometime till Raashi came chiming in, ‘Mamiji…the wedding date has been fixed on the 22nd of this month…that’s just a fortnight later…’
Both Bani and Rano looked stunned at Raashi who stared back at them and said, ‘What happened?’ And then added teasingly, ‘Is it too long to wait for you?’
Bani spoke in a slow manner, ‘No…its…it’s the date of our wedding anniversary also…’
Raashi was taken aback and spoke in a knowing manner, ‘So that is why Jai Mamaji chose this date of the entire one’s that Massi had suggested?’
Rano and Raashi had no end of teasing Bani for the rest of the evening, refusing to let even call up Jai, saying that no one will allow them to meet or even talk till the wedding ceremony happens.
Part 2 C
Jai’s Apartment
‘This is ridiculous…why can’t I meet my own wife?’ Jai sounded severely annoyed as he banged the phone down, which he had made to Walia Mansion to speak with Bani, but was met with a strict warning by Massi that till the wedding takes place, he should not come to Walia House and definitely not try and meet up with Bani.
‘Well technically buddy…she is no longer your wife…because you both ended up signing the divorce papers which are lying in my office…and till you get married again, you cannot officially call her your wife.’
Jai turned to give a very cross look at Tarun who was munching on to an Apple with delight, reveling in his friend’s desperate situation.
‘Who the hell asked for your comments?’
‘How rude and how ungrateful! If not for me, you would have become a full blown Jaidas by now…singing songs in your Bani’s memories…and its really sad because you have an awful singing voice.’
Jai took a cushion and aimed it sharply at Tarun’s head, who had fallen off the couch, laughing wildly.
‘You did nothing great…I would have anyway gone to her and sorted out everything…’
Tarun raised his eyebrows and said, ‘Yeah sure…for someone who took ages coming to terms with the fact that you were in love…sure you would have gone and sorted things out…Jai, you might be the brightest entrepreneurial mind we have amongst us, but when it comes to the matter of heart, you are sadly miles behind…’
‘Will you shut up or should I throw you out of the window?’
Tarun grinned in response and said, ‘and if you land in jail, your poor bride will be kept waiting at the aisle…now you wouldn’t want to do something like that to Bani, right?’
Jai laughed out in frustration and said, ‘It’s my mistake that I set to argue with a lawyer…so okay, you win…’
Tarun refused to give in and said, ‘And you agree that it’s only because of me that Bani is back in your life?’
Jai spoke in a passionate voice, ‘No. She is back in my life, because she always belonged there…and will always be there.’
Tarun raised his hands in reconciliation and said, ‘You win the final round, Mr. Walia and get to keep your queen also!’
Later At Night
Bani who was still taking medicines slept soundly at night because of the sedatives and it took several rings for her to pick up the phone near her bedside.
‘Tell me that you were dreaming of me and that is why your sleep took so long to break?’ Jai was leaning back on the couch and smiling as he had called up Bani at night, assured that everyone would be fast asleep at Walia Mansion.
‘Huh…’ Bani’s voice sounded groggy as she tried to orient herself and recognizing Jai’s voice, felt her cheeks go a bit hot.
‘Aap…this time at night? Is everything fine?’
‘No…it’s not actually…’
Bani panicked and getting up on the bed said, ‘What happened? Are you feeling ill? Did you ring the doctor? Did you take your medicines after dinner?’
Jai answered back in a languorous tone, ‘It’s to do with my heart…Bani…’
Bani’s voice was now completely panic stricken and she said, ‘Your heart? What happened? Is it paining? Are you having palpitations? Is your heartbeat increased?’
Laughing at her concern and franticness over him, he replied back in flirtatious tone, ‘All that and much more! But not because of any medical reasons…It has to do with the fact that I have fallen in love for the first time so late in life…hence I think my heart is working a bit overtime to keep up with all those feelings that I have for you.’
Bani blushed to the root of her hair and found herself going speechless. She had always known her husband to be the quietest man she had ever known…a man of very few words…and to hear him express his feelings in such a blatant manner completely rattled Bani.
Trying to recover the overwhelming sense of shyness she felt, Bani spoke bashfully, ‘Did you call me at this time to say all this?’
‘Since we are getting married for the second time, I wanted it to be a love marriage…and I was just doing the courtship bit…’
Bani started laughing and said, ‘I can’t believe that you could speak like this…’
‘You will be subjected to a lot of surprises this time round, Bani…’
Bani felt herself going hot and cold on the manner that Jai had just said those words and fumbling with the instrument she said hurriedly, ‘I have to keep the phone…Rano is sleeping with me…she might wake up…’
‘Keep counting every moment till we meet again for the next 7 life’s…’
Bani felt her eyes going moist and after a moment’s hesitation, spoke with extreme diffidence, ‘Suniye...’
Jai answered back in the same tone, ‘Kahiye…’
They both started laughing till Bani said almost inaudibly, ‘I love you, Mr. Walia…’
‘You sound like you are wishing me to get well soon, Bani…we are not in my office and you are not my employee any longer…’
Bani tried to suppress her blushing and giggling, not wanting to wake up Rano and get teased by her also.
Jai braced up in a matter of fact tone and said, ‘Next when we both are alone…and that I think will only be during our wedding night…I want you to call me by my name…’
Bani gasped a bit and said, ‘I can’t…’
Jai answered back with a hint of wickedness in his voice, ‘Then I won’t let you out of our room till you call me Jai…you better face everyone alone when asks you why you were up so long in the morning.’
Bani’s cheeks were a flaming red now and all she could say on the phone before collapsing on her pillow with happiness was, ‘Good night…and take your medicines on time…and don’t drink please…and call me up tomorrow also…and…’
Jai laughed and cutting in short said, ‘And yes, I love you lots too!’
To be continued...
Love,
R
PS: Thanks for all your comments, guys!
Part 3 A
Jai felt his head splitting up with so many people talking at the same time and he wisely decided to keep quiet till the commotion had died down.
He had come over to Walia Mansion to collect some documents from his study that he had back here, and had hoped for a meeting with Bani too, which looked impossible as of now.
‘Jai, tum batao? I think we should have a party at the Taj...it has a grand ballroom and can accommodate almost a thousand people.’ Aditya ventured enthusiastically.
Nachiket negated the idea and said, ‘I think we should have the party at one of our Hotels…the Orchard Ballroom is a great venue…’
Ranveer said quietly, ‘Or maybe our property in Khandala…we can ferry all the guests from Mumbai till there…’
Massi turned to look her nephew who was sitting expressionless, not saying a single word. ‘Arre...the groom is not saying a word and he is the one who is getting married. Munna, you tell me, where do you want the function to be held?’
Jai gave an amused look at everyone but spoke with all seriousness, ‘Firstly, it’s our marriage ceremony and not a function and secondly, I am not going in for any carnival of celebration. It will be a simple ceremony held here at Walia Mansion with only family and close friends. End of topic.’
The emphatic-ness with which Jai had pronounced these words left everyone speechless and they finally ended up liking the idea of a close-knit family function much better than organizing a grand event.
Jai turned to look at Massi and asked casually, ‘Where is Bani?’
Rano who had been sitting nearby grinned mischievously at Raashi and both of them started giggling, embarrassing Jai. Irritated he said, ‘I just want to go and ask how she is feeling…what is so funny about it?’
Rano immediately got a serious expression and muttered about Bani being in the Terrace.
Jai leaned on the wrought iron swing without making it move, so that he could see what Bani was sketching with such concentration. It was a half-formed drawing of a woman holding a child in her arms and the figure of a man holding them both in his arms.
Jai did not know whether to smile or cry at what he saw…happy for the fact that in spite of all that happened, Bani still saw happiness for the future or sad for the fact that he could do nothing to prevent what had happened.
He noticed that she kept pushing the strands of hair from her cheeks when they came in her view and lifting them by his fingers, he gently tucked them behind her ears. Startled at the intrusion, she swung backwards to see Jai standing and looked shocked.
‘Its okay…its just me.’ He said soothingly when he saw the expression on her face, noticing sadly that the shock of the attack still lingered in her psyche.
‘Aap…’ she ventured timidly, feeling extremely shy.
‘Yes its me…not my evil twin brother and now stop looking so bashful. When you get so awkward, even I feel the same.’
Blushingly Bani turned her face the other side, till Jai came and sat near her in the swing. ‘Do you remember that day when I had shouted on you for coming to my Office with the lunch? I had felt so guilty by evening and when I came home, you were nowhere to be seen…I obviously couldn’t ask anyone about you…so I had gone about searching the whole place, till Tony finally told me that you are in the Terrace…’
Bani looked at him, smiling, as he recounted the earlier days of their marriage, feeling both strange yet comforted by the fact that Jai was talking with so much ease and casualness with her, when earlier, even looking at each other’s faces seemed to be a huge effort.
Jai continued, putting his arm around her waist and drawing her closer to him, ‘I finally came to the Terrace to see you sitting on the parapet wall…and even though my conscience told me to go and apologize to you, my ego was too big for that…so I kept looking at you from a distance…’
Bani finally managed to utter a word, more out of surprise on what she had just heard, ‘You wanted to apologize to me?’
Jai looked amused at the wonder in her voice and said, ‘Why? Did you think I was such a monster that I couldn’t even say sorry when I had been rude to you?’
Bani blushed and lowered her face to avoid replying and Jai began laughing at her gesture, saying, ‘So I was a monster, right?’
‘No…of course not.’ She responded, trying to sound vehement, but not really succeeding.
Jai kept gazing at her when she flushed pink and tried to avoid looking back at him and all in a moment wondered what on earth had he been thinking of during the six months of their marriage. How come he hadn’t noticed the curve of her mouth as she bits her lips to avoid her embarrassment, the way her eyes sparkled when she smiled, how her voice chimed like silver bells when she laughed, the softness of her skin, the darkness of her hair. Jai felt truly surprised at the fact that he had never felt a physical attraction towards Bani ever before…of course he had not remain untouched by the goodness of her heart, by her gentle nature and kind gestures, by her caring and loving attitude towards everyone, by the fact that she never lost her temper even if provoked to the very extreme, the fact that she never held grudges even though Jai and his family had been nothing but unfair towards her.
But the fact that he had never looked at Bani as a man looks at a woman seemed to stagger him awfully. Feeling awkward by the manner in which Jai was staring at her, she begun talking vaguely about the first thing that came to her mind, but only till he clasped his arms tightly around her waist and pulled her towards him in one sweep.
Kissing her gently yet firmly on her lips, he let her go only when she began gasping for breath. Stunned she stared at him, till he spoke with a mad passion in his eyes, ‘I have been blind all this while and now that I can see what I had missing…the wait is going to make me go crazy.’
She looked up at him, shy and diffident yet the happiness of hearing such words from Jai couldn’t stop the happiness reflecting from her eyes. Not hearing anything from Bani, he took her by her shoulders and said in a beguiled tone, ‘Why are you so tongue-tied with me around, Bani? Earlier, I could understand that you were afraid of me…but now?’
Bani found herself shrinking further and placed her head on his shoulders, refusing to look up. Jai held her in his arms and spoke provokingly, ‘Are you planning to hide yourself from me for the rest of our lives? If so, then I think I will have to make some alternate arrangements…’
On hearing this, she immediately looked up, a bit hurt and taken aback. He smiled and spoke teasingly, ‘and by alternate arrangements, I meant loving you so much, so much, that you would never be able to escape me…so you still have time to make your decision!’
Bani laughed and finally spoke, ‘I can’t believe you are the same person…’
‘Who tortured you…hurt you…made you cry…’
With a look of intense softness in her eyes, she whispered, ‘No the same person who trusted me despite everything that happened…who gave a chance to me and our marriage…the same person who made me realize what love is all about.’
Jai found himself going speechless and they just kept looking into each other’s eyes, till the sound of someone approaching the terrace disturbed their trance.
‘Hello there…I thought you two weren’t supposed to meet till D-day?’ Tarun announced cheerfully.
Jai gave a deadpan look at his best friend and said, ‘Why do you keep following me everywhere, Tarun? In the office, at my apartment and now here? Don’t you have work to do?’
Tarun laughed alongside Bani who felt extremely awkward and before Tarun could begin ribbing them both, walked out of the terrace, refusing to listen to both Tarun and Jai trying to stop her.
Tarun came and sat on the swing along with Jai and picked up the half finished sketch that Bani had been drawing. Suddenly serious after seeing what she had drawn, he looked at Jai and said, ‘She is still to come out of that shock, isn’t it?’
Jai noiselessly nodded his head to the statement and later added, ‘I wish I had seen some sense before on…all that happened could have been avoided…’
‘Things could have been worse…and besides what you went through was natural…’
Jai smiled cryptically and remarked back, ‘Taking all the anger and ire I had for Pia and Pushkar on Bani was natural? Maybe…but it was also very unfair…and I can’t tell you how miserable I feel thinking about it.’
Tarun kept quiet, looking at Jai’s serious face till he spoke with a quiet determination, ‘But I am going to make it up to her…whatever it takes to give her happiness, I will do it.’
Tarun smiled looking at his friend and said, ‘I am thrilled that the love bug hasn’t bitten me till date…looking at your condition over Bani…its scares the living daylight out of me…first you were in this pathetic and painful condition when she was in the hospital and now that you are love-struck and starry-eyed.’
Jai went a bit crimson and getting a blustery look said, ‘Obviously you refuse to grow up and that is why you are still single…so don’t envy my luck.’
Tarun laughed alongside his friend and said ruefully, ‘I was rather hoping to have some luck with Bani when she had filed for divorce against you…’
Jai gave a stumped look at his best friend and abused him cheerfully, ‘You s***e!’
‘Hey…mind your language, else I will tell you wife about it! She seems to have too good an impression about her Mr. Walia…I think I should place a call to all your ex-girlfriends from school, university and Management College…let them all be a part of this wedding. And then we will see how you deal with your newly wed wife when she meets up with the throngs of your ex-flames and gets to know about your colorful past!’
Both of them laughed unrestrainedly on that and Jai fearing that the loud-mouthed Tarun might end up saying something on these lines to Bani and upset her, made him swear that he wouldn’t say anything to Bani regarding his college days.
Part 3 B
The entire Walia Family contingent had gathered for the wedding and everyone was in high spirits and extremely joyful for the two people who everyone loved and adored, Jai and Bani. Even Jigyasa who still held some prejudices against her brother’s wife could not help but join in the celebrations. She badly wanted to make it up with Jai and knew that the only manner in which she could thaw Jai’s coldness towards her was through Bani.
Jai continued calling up Bani every night, but not used to talk so much, they were invariably silent on the phone, yet understanding those unspoken words too.
After finishing his work one evening, Jai had planned to go to a nearby Pub along with Tarun and Aditya for drinks, since both of them teased him that he was about to lose his bachelor status again and he better make the best of his shortly available freedom. His other best friend, Mohan Khandelwal and Gaurav Gupta had also come to Mumbai to join in the wedding and they were also joining him at the Pub.
He had sent away his driver and was walking towards his Car standing in the front porch of his Office building that he saw a familiar figure standing in the distance. The sudden surprise of seeing Pia made Jai stare at her astounded for some time, till she came walking towards him.
Even in the setting dimness of the twilight hour, she looked beautiful. The same stunning good looks and charm that had bowled his heart away the very first time he had seen her along with Bani and Rano at his house.
Giving him a timid smile, she ventured gingerly, ‘Hello, Mr. Walia.’
Jai’s stupor broke and he answered back poker-faced, ‘Hi, Pia.’
‘Um…are you going home?’
He answered back just as formally, ‘No.’
Getting a snub response from him, she floundered a bit on her words but managed to say, ‘I…I wanted to speak with you…I couldn’t come to Walia Mansion…your secretary wouldn’t give me an appointment till I told her the reason…so…’
‘Get to the point, Pia. I have some friends waiting for me.’
Noticing her nervousness and the fact that some of his employees were staring at both of them, Jai tackled the situation and said briskly, ‘Get into the Car…let’s speak on our way. I will drop you…wherever you are living.’
Pia felt distinctly uncomfortable sitting alongside Jai in the closed interior of the Car…the closeness to him sent unimaginable shivers through her whole body. And trapped between the feeling of the intense attraction that she felt towards him and of the guilt that overcame her, whenever she thought about what she had done, she felt herself going nauseated.
Looking at her white pallor, Jai said with minimal concern in his voice, ‘Are you alright? Should I stop the Car?’
Flustered she muttered, ‘Yes, Mr. Walia…could you please stop the Car.’
Thinking that she was about to be sick, Jai immediately took the Car to a corner and stopped it, getting out and opening her side of the door. Pia didn’t throw up but just seemed to exhilarate in the open air, as if someone had let her free from a closed box after a long time.
Turning to face him, she said with desperation written all over face, ‘Mr. Walia…please forgive me.’
Dazed at the sudden statement from her, it took a while for Jai to recover, but when he did, all he said in an unforgiving voice was, ‘Too little…Too late.’
Pia was rendered speechless by the finality in his voice, but did not give up and in-between tearing up begged, ‘But why Mr. Walia…you said that you loved me…you wanted to marry me…you were so heartbroken when I left you…then how can you be so hard-hearted for me.’
Not getting a single response on her emotional outburst, she wept some more and said, ‘Your marriage is also over…and I have filed for a divorce from Pushkar…then…then why can’t things be the same as it was before all this happened?’
Jai kept his hand on his Car and looking at her, spoke after a few moments of silence, ‘You seem to have your memory blanked out, Pia…in-between my falling in love with you and your questioning my feelings now, my entire life underwent a change!’
Looking at the expression of confusion on Pia’s face, Jai added simply, ‘Bani and I are back together…we are getting married next week.’
Shocked at the news, it took a while for Pia to gather her guts, but then with a show of adamancy that was second nature to her, she said, ‘You are going to live the rest of your life with a woman out of guilt rather than love? And force my sister to live a loveless life too?’
Jai was uncommunicative and taking that as an expression of the fact that she was getting across her point, Pia walked towards him and spoke, almost hysterical, ‘I know that Di is still in a shock after losing the baby…that she risked her life to protect you…and that you feel obliged to be with her now…but Bani di doesn’t love you, Mr. Walia…she did not even want to marry you…your marriage was forced upon her…and upon you…even that child was a mistake…why do you want to repeat the same mistake again?’
Jai kept staring at Pia and then suddenly broke out laughing raucously. So wild and feral was his laughter, that Pia felt daunted and scared, till he calmed down and still gulping in between the bitter laugh spoke in an amused tone, ‘Now I know the reason why it took me so long to realize that Bani was the one whom God had chosen for me…that we got married because it was our destiny to be together…’
Now it was Pia’s turned to be stunned into silence, while Jai spoke ruthlessly, ‘Pia, it was your beauty that had blinded me into thinking that I was in love with you…that I wanted to live my life with the woman who was so perfect…so beautiful…so full of life. And when you walked out on me, without any fault of mine, all my illusions about love, about human goodness and trust in relationships was shattered…you ended up eroding all that I had held valuable in life and made me into this empty shell, that had nothing to give but anger and hatred.’
Breaking the silence of the night, Jai spoke quietly, ‘I admit that you were the one to make me realize what love was…but it was Bani who taught me the value of that love…when you shook my faith, it was Bani who reinstated it…when you broke my heart, it was she who helped heal it…when you gave me humiliation, pain and tears, it was she who took all that away and made me trust life again.’
‘We have both lived each other’s pain and heartbreak, Pia…and seen the worst of one another, yet chose to stay loyal and committed…and if that is not love, then I guess, I don’t want to be ever in love…I chose the nameless emotion I share with Bani over everything else in the world.’
He spoke quietly, ‘Take my Car and drive back home…and I still hope and wish that Bani and my relationship never comes in the way of you both sisters.’
Saying that, Jai walked off in the darkness and the last sound Pia heard was the sound of the Cab driving away, leaving behind a swirl of dust.
Pia had never been kicked in the teeth before but now she knew exactly how it felt. She recoiled, every emotion appalled by what she hear. And perhaps for the first time, since she had walked out of Jai Walia’s life, she felt her heart surge with an overwhelming feeling of self-pity and guilt and bitterness at her own stupidity, at her selfishness and the folly of youth, which had made her leave him but had confidently expected him to do what she wanted and come after her.
A great anguish filled Pia’s heart, lacerated it, a despair so deep that she was beyond tears. She had asked Jai why he wouldn’t take her back in his life and now he had told her. She had lost him, perhaps from the very moment she had walked out and Bani had walked in his life. Any love he had for her was as dead as the dust on ground, buried too deep for him to do anything but despise her.
So it was over – for Jai. But Pia knew now that for her the real hurting had only just began.
Part 3 C
When Jai entered Walia Mansion, he felt almost nauseated by the smell of jasmine flowers mingled with sweets and incense sticks and many other smells, that hit one’s sense during an Indian wedding ceremony. The banisters and staircase were decorated in golden marigold and there was a huge centre-piece made of Roses and Lilies, Jai and Bani’s favorite flowers.
Rano who was rattling out some instructions to Tony noticed Jai standing quietly near the door, a witness to the frenzy of activity going on for the wedding that was to take place in two days time.
She came smiling down to meet him and before he could get in a word, said, ‘You can’t meet Di…and if your force your way up, I will have to tell Massi and then the only way you can get married is by eloping with my sister.’
Jai and Rano both started laughing and he said, ‘I came to give something to Bani…where is she?’
‘She is upstairs in the terrace with the others…getting Mehendi on her hands.’ Rano continued emotionally, ‘Even though you two are getting married for the second time…everything feels so new…so unique. The last time I saw Bani di this happy was after Saahil and Raashi’s sangeet ceremony…’
Jai smiled at her and said, ‘Yes…everything does feel like new…and even though I am an atheist, I will place a request to every God for giving me the strength and ability to fill Bani’s life with happiness and love.’
Rano felt herself tearing up and said, ‘Now you are getting me so emotional…and the ceremony hasn’t even started…I am going to bawl my heart out then.’
Jai laughed and said, ‘I promise not to land up again till the wedding time, but please could you get her to meet me just once…I am in my room..’ and then added with an afterthought, ‘I mean, our room…’
Rano blushed and giggled, running off to the terrace to try and wrangle Bani out of the group of relatives who had gathered her.
Jai was coming to his bedroom after what he felt was ages…the room was spic and span as usual…but the fact that it had been unlived for the past few months could be clearly seen. A wave of strong emotions hit Jai when he looked at his room…the place which had been his private chamber ever since he had turned 5 years old and his parent’s had specially made the room for him. Though hating to sleep all alone at that age, Jai had grown accustomed to have the place all for his own over the years. So much so that, even his parent’s had to knock and enter the room when he had reached his teen years and later he wouldn’t allow anyone inside the room, except when it required cleaning.
And then suddenly, one fine night he had stumbled drunk into his room, only to be shocked by the presence of his newly wed wife, Bani, looking terrified and lost. He had screamed on Jigyasa the next day for letting that ‘girl’ inside his bedroom, but had let her stay on because he realized that it was the only way to stop any gossip taking place in the servants quarters on the issue of Mrs. and Mr. Walia sharing separate rooms.
Bani had been almost unobtrusive…and he had never seen her except as a piece of furniture that had been added to the room. But small things she did began to come to his notice…the way she always took out his night clothes and kept them pressed and ready to wear on his side of the bed. Or his morning tea that was brought to him at sharp 7, just as he was getting up from his sleep. And sometimes when he woke up in the morning, he would notice his shoes kept neatly below the bed and his jacket and tie folded neatly and kept on the chair…which used to remind him how drunk he had been the night before and in spite of his condition, Bani had helped him get to bed.
A smile came over his lips, when he touched the soft sheet…the first morning when he had found Bani sleeping with her head on his arms…he had been so taken aback that at first he wanted to shrug her off roughly, but when he saw her face…innocent, guiless and at such peace with herself, he had let her catch a few winks…even though his arm had felt just as discomfited as his growing feelings for her.
Jai laughed lightly remembering the night when he had come very late, from Roshni’s house and found Bani to be sleeping…and so used was he to her presence, that one look at her and he could guess that she had been awoke till a minute back and was only pretending sleep so that he wouldn’t come to know that she had waited for him this long. In spite of the rancor he held in his heart against Bani at that time, her caring and concern for him had touched his heart…the fact that after his Mother’s death, Bani was the only person who would stay awake this late to see that he had come back home hale and hearty was something that overwhelmed Jai badly. He had found it very difficult to be his usual rude self to her from then onwards.
As the muslin curtains danced away in the evening breeze coming from the Ocean which enjoyed a beautiful view from Jai’s bedroom, the most cherished night of his life evoked every bit of his memory.
9 Months Back
The night of Saahil / Raashi and Anu / Rohit's Sangeet Ceremony
Jai entered the room, his head slightly spinning with the overdose of champagne that Roshni had forced down his throat. The very thought of Roshni, filled Jai’s senses with a nausea of disgust and hatred…..what sort of women was he surrounded by, wondered Jai…and just then, he saw Bani standing in front of the large bay window. Jai was surprised, he definitely wasn’t expecting Bani here….he had searched for her in the Party, but apparently she was nowhere around and he assumed that she must have been in one of the rooms with Rano or Massi. Jai stood rooted to his place and kept staring at the solitary figure in front of him….how ethereal and beautiful she looked, with the pale, silvery moonlight casting a gentle shadow in the room....How fragile, delicate and vulnerable was Bani….so untouched and so pristine…..Jai suddenly jolted out of his thoughts as Bani turned her head to look at him, her tear-strained face registering surprise and then a deep anguish and pain. Jai and Bani kept looking at one another for some time and suddenly the darkened room seemed to illuminate with some unknown force.
“What happened Bani? Why are you crying?”
Jai’s voice expressed a deep concern yet a soothing gentleness as he walked towards Bani, who clenched her fists tightly and turned her face from Jai, but could not stop her tears from flowing. “Bani? Bani? What happened? Look at me. Bani, I am speaking to you.”
Jai was speaking with great alarm and disquiet now as he held Bani gently by her shoulders and turned her towards him, as Bani kept her head bowed down and silently wept. As Bani kept quite, Jai lifted her face by her chin very softly and saw that she was now weeping openly, almost like a child. Jai took Bani’s face in the palms of his hand and asked her again, with the same gentle authority, “What happened Bani? Are you feeling unwell? Or did someone say anything to you? Why did you leave the party all of a sudden?”
Bani looked at Jai in his eyes and the warm protectiveness and strength in them made Bani lose any sense of control that she possessed till now and she broke down completely as she said between sobs, “I want to go back. I want to go away from you. I want to go away from your life.”
Jai was so stunned by what Bani said that he let go of her and with a confused shock kept looking at her for some time, as she racked with sobs. “What are you talking about Bani? Where do you want to go? What happened? For god sake, stop crying and tell me something.”
Bani kept sobbing as she tried to wipe her face dry but a fresh bout of tears besieged her again and in between sobs she said again, “I want to go back to Mount Abu. I don’t want to live in this house.”
Jai was now really stunned and couldn’t in the World fathom what had gone wrong with Bani all of a sudden, he remembered slightly that she looked unwell throughout the party and also a little lost than usual….but what had so happened that made her react in such a manner. As Jai asked Bani in the same gentle but firm tone again, “Alright. If you want to leave, I won’t stop you. But atleast, tell me what happened.”
Jai once again lifted Bani’s tearful face towards him as she looked at Jai and the vortex of emotions that had so tortured her for the past few weeks came tumbling down like a cascading waterfall as she replied back, “You like Roshni, isn’t it? Then I won’t come in between your happiness. I don’t want to become the reason of your grief once again. I will go away.”
As Bani released herself from Jai and started walking ahead, wobbling almost, because of the throbbing headache she had, Jai froze in his spot as he simply could not believe what he had just heard and for sometime Jai just kept staring at nothingness as Bani’s words rang through his mind.
“Stop, Bani.” Jai’s voice was steady and in control now as he held Bani by her arms and holding them with a firm tenderness he stopped Bani and came in front of her and as Bani looked up to Jai, even in her disturbed state, she could see that the man standing in front of her was someone different…someone she had not know previously in person, but only in imagination. Jai’s eyes held something else today and before Bani could say or react further, Jai gathered Bani close to him and holding her gently by her waist, planted a passionate yet warm kiss on her forehead. As a stunned, teary eyed Bani kept staring at Jai, her mind in a turmoil and her body as if in a limbo, Jai’s eyes seemed to hold a love so deep that it seemed to tear the solitary darkness of their room and radiated every inch of Bani’s self. Bani staggered for a while, the drink she had consumed was fogging her head but somehow she knew what had just happened to her was not her dream….no this was for real….the warmth, the caress, the gentle touch on her forehead….it could not be her dream, yet why did everything feel so ethereal…so unreal.
Jai kept holding Bani in his arms, with strength and with gentleness….and then almost as if in a whisper he said, “Who told you that I like Roshni?”
Bani made no reply as she was held in Jai’s arms and looked dazed and overcome by her emotions and then after a moment’s silence answered hesitatingly, “I saw you both in the same room… I saw her with you …she was with you in the room…in the bed.”
Bani now sounded unsure of herself, as the fogginess in her head seemed to hit her senses as she placed her hands on Jai’s chest as if to balance herself from falling down. Jai let out a faint smile and then as he realized what Bani was saying, his smile widened a little bit more till it almost became a soft laughter and he shaked his head gently and answered back, “I have no idea what you are talking about or what you have seen. But nothing happened between me and Roshni. I went to her room and came back as it is. Please trust me.”
Bani looked astonished as she kept staring into Jai’s deep brown eyes and before she could react further, he came closer and with great tenderness planted a kiss on the nape of Bani’s neck and gently shaking her silky hair with his fingers and holding her face close to his own, he closed his eyes as he kissed Bani, with a passion and feeling that he had buried in his heart for the past so many days….it seemed like time froze in an instant and as the tears kept flowing involuntarily from Bani’s eyes, Jai kissed off a droplet from her cheeks, as Bani tingled to the core of her self with Jai’s mesmerizing touch.
Jai lifted Bani deftly in his arms and without as much as a single word, led her towards their bed…..
Bani did not know what made her fall into Jai’s arms with an effortlessness and relief that had previously never existed in their relationship…for Bani it seemed, that this was the most natural progression to their relationship and even in her semi-conscious condition, all Bani could realize was that from now onwards, she never wanted to leave the warmth and protection of Jai’s arms, not tonight and not forever…
Back to the Present
‘Suniye…Suniye…Mr. Walia…’ her soft voice interrupted her thoughts and he looked at her completely dazed.
‘Rano said you were here…I looked for you all over the house…and then I came to this room…’
Jai kept gazing at Bani, her skin pallor had improved and a tinge of rosiness spotted her cheeks, her eyes were just as bright and shining as they had always been…and he saw that one of her hand was covered in Mehendi, up till her elbows.
Feeling extremely shy at the manner in which he was staring at her, she dropped her eyelids and avoided looking at him.
‘I have got you something, I want you to wear when we get married, Bani.’
She raised her eyes and looked at him wonderingly, till he put his hands in his pockets and took out a pair of exquisitely crafted bangles…recognizing them immediatlely, Bani couldn’t help but get her eyes moist.
When she took them slowly from his hands, she asked him in a timid, overpowered voice, ‘Are they for me?’
Jai couldn’t help laughing out loud and he repeated the same words that he had once used for a very similar occasion, ‘No…its for me…I have actually started wearing Bangles.’
Flushing deeply and overwhelmed by sentiments, Bani broke down crying gently, with her head buried in his chest.
He let her cry for sometime and then lifting her head, looked at her face and whispered in a specious tone, ‘Don’t come too near me…I have just had a very vivid journey back the memory lane and you are tempting me to repeat history once again right now…’
Before Bani could understand what he was trying to say, Rano had knoced on the door and putting only her head in spoke mischievously, ‘Meeting time over…Di, please come out before Massi or Daadi see both of you and Mr. Walia, Tarunji is looking for you all over the place and creating a big ruckus.’
Bani all but ran out of the room, clutching the Kangans, while Jai muttered something about Tarun being the death of him someday and got out of the room, locking it, to be opened now on only on his wedding night.
To be continued...
Jai felt his head splitting up with so many people talking at the same time and he wisely decided to keep quiet till the commotion had died down.
He had come over to Walia Mansion to collect some documents from his study that he had back here, and had hoped for a meeting with Bani too, which looked impossible as of now.
‘Jai, tum batao? I think we should have a party at the Taj...it has a grand ballroom and can accommodate almost a thousand people.’ Aditya ventured enthusiastically.
Nachiket negated the idea and said, ‘I think we should have the party at one of our Hotels…the Orchard Ballroom is a great venue…’
Ranveer said quietly, ‘Or maybe our property in Khandala…we can ferry all the guests from Mumbai till there…’
Massi turned to look her nephew who was sitting expressionless, not saying a single word. ‘Arre...the groom is not saying a word and he is the one who is getting married. Munna, you tell me, where do you want the function to be held?’
Jai gave an amused look at everyone but spoke with all seriousness, ‘Firstly, it’s our marriage ceremony and not a function and secondly, I am not going in for any carnival of celebration. It will be a simple ceremony held here at Walia Mansion with only family and close friends. End of topic.’
The emphatic-ness with which Jai had pronounced these words left everyone speechless and they finally ended up liking the idea of a close-knit family function much better than organizing a grand event.
Jai turned to look at Massi and asked casually, ‘Where is Bani?’
Rano who had been sitting nearby grinned mischievously at Raashi and both of them started giggling, embarrassing Jai. Irritated he said, ‘I just want to go and ask how she is feeling…what is so funny about it?’
Rano immediately got a serious expression and muttered about Bani being in the Terrace.
Jai leaned on the wrought iron swing without making it move, so that he could see what Bani was sketching with such concentration. It was a half-formed drawing of a woman holding a child in her arms and the figure of a man holding them both in his arms.
Jai did not know whether to smile or cry at what he saw…happy for the fact that in spite of all that happened, Bani still saw happiness for the future or sad for the fact that he could do nothing to prevent what had happened.
He noticed that she kept pushing the strands of hair from her cheeks when they came in her view and lifting them by his fingers, he gently tucked them behind her ears. Startled at the intrusion, she swung backwards to see Jai standing and looked shocked.
‘Its okay…its just me.’ He said soothingly when he saw the expression on her face, noticing sadly that the shock of the attack still lingered in her psyche.
‘Aap…’ she ventured timidly, feeling extremely shy.
‘Yes its me…not my evil twin brother and now stop looking so bashful. When you get so awkward, even I feel the same.’
Blushingly Bani turned her face the other side, till Jai came and sat near her in the swing. ‘Do you remember that day when I had shouted on you for coming to my Office with the lunch? I had felt so guilty by evening and when I came home, you were nowhere to be seen…I obviously couldn’t ask anyone about you…so I had gone about searching the whole place, till Tony finally told me that you are in the Terrace…’
Bani looked at him, smiling, as he recounted the earlier days of their marriage, feeling both strange yet comforted by the fact that Jai was talking with so much ease and casualness with her, when earlier, even looking at each other’s faces seemed to be a huge effort.
Jai continued, putting his arm around her waist and drawing her closer to him, ‘I finally came to the Terrace to see you sitting on the parapet wall…and even though my conscience told me to go and apologize to you, my ego was too big for that…so I kept looking at you from a distance…’
Bani finally managed to utter a word, more out of surprise on what she had just heard, ‘You wanted to apologize to me?’
Jai looked amused at the wonder in her voice and said, ‘Why? Did you think I was such a monster that I couldn’t even say sorry when I had been rude to you?’
Bani blushed and lowered her face to avoid replying and Jai began laughing at her gesture, saying, ‘So I was a monster, right?’
‘No…of course not.’ She responded, trying to sound vehement, but not really succeeding.
Jai kept gazing at her when she flushed pink and tried to avoid looking back at him and all in a moment wondered what on earth had he been thinking of during the six months of their marriage. How come he hadn’t noticed the curve of her mouth as she bits her lips to avoid her embarrassment, the way her eyes sparkled when she smiled, how her voice chimed like silver bells when she laughed, the softness of her skin, the darkness of her hair. Jai felt truly surprised at the fact that he had never felt a physical attraction towards Bani ever before…of course he had not remain untouched by the goodness of her heart, by her gentle nature and kind gestures, by her caring and loving attitude towards everyone, by the fact that she never lost her temper even if provoked to the very extreme, the fact that she never held grudges even though Jai and his family had been nothing but unfair towards her.
But the fact that he had never looked at Bani as a man looks at a woman seemed to stagger him awfully. Feeling awkward by the manner in which Jai was staring at her, she begun talking vaguely about the first thing that came to her mind, but only till he clasped his arms tightly around her waist and pulled her towards him in one sweep.
Kissing her gently yet firmly on her lips, he let her go only when she began gasping for breath. Stunned she stared at him, till he spoke with a mad passion in his eyes, ‘I have been blind all this while and now that I can see what I had missing…the wait is going to make me go crazy.’
She looked up at him, shy and diffident yet the happiness of hearing such words from Jai couldn’t stop the happiness reflecting from her eyes. Not hearing anything from Bani, he took her by her shoulders and said in a beguiled tone, ‘Why are you so tongue-tied with me around, Bani? Earlier, I could understand that you were afraid of me…but now?’
Bani found herself shrinking further and placed her head on his shoulders, refusing to look up. Jai held her in his arms and spoke provokingly, ‘Are you planning to hide yourself from me for the rest of our lives? If so, then I think I will have to make some alternate arrangements…’
On hearing this, she immediately looked up, a bit hurt and taken aback. He smiled and spoke teasingly, ‘and by alternate arrangements, I meant loving you so much, so much, that you would never be able to escape me…so you still have time to make your decision!’
Bani laughed and finally spoke, ‘I can’t believe you are the same person…’
‘Who tortured you…hurt you…made you cry…’
With a look of intense softness in her eyes, she whispered, ‘No the same person who trusted me despite everything that happened…who gave a chance to me and our marriage…the same person who made me realize what love is all about.’
Jai found himself going speechless and they just kept looking into each other’s eyes, till the sound of someone approaching the terrace disturbed their trance.
‘Hello there…I thought you two weren’t supposed to meet till D-day?’ Tarun announced cheerfully.
Jai gave a deadpan look at his best friend and said, ‘Why do you keep following me everywhere, Tarun? In the office, at my apartment and now here? Don’t you have work to do?’
Tarun laughed alongside Bani who felt extremely awkward and before Tarun could begin ribbing them both, walked out of the terrace, refusing to listen to both Tarun and Jai trying to stop her.
Tarun came and sat on the swing along with Jai and picked up the half finished sketch that Bani had been drawing. Suddenly serious after seeing what she had drawn, he looked at Jai and said, ‘She is still to come out of that shock, isn’t it?’
Jai noiselessly nodded his head to the statement and later added, ‘I wish I had seen some sense before on…all that happened could have been avoided…’
‘Things could have been worse…and besides what you went through was natural…’
Jai smiled cryptically and remarked back, ‘Taking all the anger and ire I had for Pia and Pushkar on Bani was natural? Maybe…but it was also very unfair…and I can’t tell you how miserable I feel thinking about it.’
Tarun kept quiet, looking at Jai’s serious face till he spoke with a quiet determination, ‘But I am going to make it up to her…whatever it takes to give her happiness, I will do it.’
Tarun smiled looking at his friend and said, ‘I am thrilled that the love bug hasn’t bitten me till date…looking at your condition over Bani…its scares the living daylight out of me…first you were in this pathetic and painful condition when she was in the hospital and now that you are love-struck and starry-eyed.’
Jai went a bit crimson and getting a blustery look said, ‘Obviously you refuse to grow up and that is why you are still single…so don’t envy my luck.’
Tarun laughed alongside his friend and said ruefully, ‘I was rather hoping to have some luck with Bani when she had filed for divorce against you…’
Jai gave a stumped look at his best friend and abused him cheerfully, ‘You s***e!’
‘Hey…mind your language, else I will tell you wife about it! She seems to have too good an impression about her Mr. Walia…I think I should place a call to all your ex-girlfriends from school, university and Management College…let them all be a part of this wedding. And then we will see how you deal with your newly wed wife when she meets up with the throngs of your ex-flames and gets to know about your colorful past!’
Both of them laughed unrestrainedly on that and Jai fearing that the loud-mouthed Tarun might end up saying something on these lines to Bani and upset her, made him swear that he wouldn’t say anything to Bani regarding his college days.
Part 3 B
The entire Walia Family contingent had gathered for the wedding and everyone was in high spirits and extremely joyful for the two people who everyone loved and adored, Jai and Bani. Even Jigyasa who still held some prejudices against her brother’s wife could not help but join in the celebrations. She badly wanted to make it up with Jai and knew that the only manner in which she could thaw Jai’s coldness towards her was through Bani.
Jai continued calling up Bani every night, but not used to talk so much, they were invariably silent on the phone, yet understanding those unspoken words too.
After finishing his work one evening, Jai had planned to go to a nearby Pub along with Tarun and Aditya for drinks, since both of them teased him that he was about to lose his bachelor status again and he better make the best of his shortly available freedom. His other best friend, Mohan Khandelwal and Gaurav Gupta had also come to Mumbai to join in the wedding and they were also joining him at the Pub.
He had sent away his driver and was walking towards his Car standing in the front porch of his Office building that he saw a familiar figure standing in the distance. The sudden surprise of seeing Pia made Jai stare at her astounded for some time, till she came walking towards him.
Even in the setting dimness of the twilight hour, she looked beautiful. The same stunning good looks and charm that had bowled his heart away the very first time he had seen her along with Bani and Rano at his house.
Giving him a timid smile, she ventured gingerly, ‘Hello, Mr. Walia.’
Jai’s stupor broke and he answered back poker-faced, ‘Hi, Pia.’
‘Um…are you going home?’
He answered back just as formally, ‘No.’
Getting a snub response from him, she floundered a bit on her words but managed to say, ‘I…I wanted to speak with you…I couldn’t come to Walia Mansion…your secretary wouldn’t give me an appointment till I told her the reason…so…’
‘Get to the point, Pia. I have some friends waiting for me.’
Noticing her nervousness and the fact that some of his employees were staring at both of them, Jai tackled the situation and said briskly, ‘Get into the Car…let’s speak on our way. I will drop you…wherever you are living.’
Pia felt distinctly uncomfortable sitting alongside Jai in the closed interior of the Car…the closeness to him sent unimaginable shivers through her whole body. And trapped between the feeling of the intense attraction that she felt towards him and of the guilt that overcame her, whenever she thought about what she had done, she felt herself going nauseated.
Looking at her white pallor, Jai said with minimal concern in his voice, ‘Are you alright? Should I stop the Car?’
Flustered she muttered, ‘Yes, Mr. Walia…could you please stop the Car.’
Thinking that she was about to be sick, Jai immediately took the Car to a corner and stopped it, getting out and opening her side of the door. Pia didn’t throw up but just seemed to exhilarate in the open air, as if someone had let her free from a closed box after a long time.
Turning to face him, she said with desperation written all over face, ‘Mr. Walia…please forgive me.’
Dazed at the sudden statement from her, it took a while for Jai to recover, but when he did, all he said in an unforgiving voice was, ‘Too little…Too late.’
Pia was rendered speechless by the finality in his voice, but did not give up and in-between tearing up begged, ‘But why Mr. Walia…you said that you loved me…you wanted to marry me…you were so heartbroken when I left you…then how can you be so hard-hearted for me.’
Not getting a single response on her emotional outburst, she wept some more and said, ‘Your marriage is also over…and I have filed for a divorce from Pushkar…then…then why can’t things be the same as it was before all this happened?’
Jai kept his hand on his Car and looking at her, spoke after a few moments of silence, ‘You seem to have your memory blanked out, Pia…in-between my falling in love with you and your questioning my feelings now, my entire life underwent a change!’
Looking at the expression of confusion on Pia’s face, Jai added simply, ‘Bani and I are back together…we are getting married next week.’
Shocked at the news, it took a while for Pia to gather her guts, but then with a show of adamancy that was second nature to her, she said, ‘You are going to live the rest of your life with a woman out of guilt rather than love? And force my sister to live a loveless life too?’
Jai was uncommunicative and taking that as an expression of the fact that she was getting across her point, Pia walked towards him and spoke, almost hysterical, ‘I know that Di is still in a shock after losing the baby…that she risked her life to protect you…and that you feel obliged to be with her now…but Bani di doesn’t love you, Mr. Walia…she did not even want to marry you…your marriage was forced upon her…and upon you…even that child was a mistake…why do you want to repeat the same mistake again?’
Jai kept staring at Pia and then suddenly broke out laughing raucously. So wild and feral was his laughter, that Pia felt daunted and scared, till he calmed down and still gulping in between the bitter laugh spoke in an amused tone, ‘Now I know the reason why it took me so long to realize that Bani was the one whom God had chosen for me…that we got married because it was our destiny to be together…’
Now it was Pia’s turned to be stunned into silence, while Jai spoke ruthlessly, ‘Pia, it was your beauty that had blinded me into thinking that I was in love with you…that I wanted to live my life with the woman who was so perfect…so beautiful…so full of life. And when you walked out on me, without any fault of mine, all my illusions about love, about human goodness and trust in relationships was shattered…you ended up eroding all that I had held valuable in life and made me into this empty shell, that had nothing to give but anger and hatred.’
Breaking the silence of the night, Jai spoke quietly, ‘I admit that you were the one to make me realize what love was…but it was Bani who taught me the value of that love…when you shook my faith, it was Bani who reinstated it…when you broke my heart, it was she who helped heal it…when you gave me humiliation, pain and tears, it was she who took all that away and made me trust life again.’
‘We have both lived each other’s pain and heartbreak, Pia…and seen the worst of one another, yet chose to stay loyal and committed…and if that is not love, then I guess, I don’t want to be ever in love…I chose the nameless emotion I share with Bani over everything else in the world.’
He spoke quietly, ‘Take my Car and drive back home…and I still hope and wish that Bani and my relationship never comes in the way of you both sisters.’
Saying that, Jai walked off in the darkness and the last sound Pia heard was the sound of the Cab driving away, leaving behind a swirl of dust.
Pia had never been kicked in the teeth before but now she knew exactly how it felt. She recoiled, every emotion appalled by what she hear. And perhaps for the first time, since she had walked out of Jai Walia’s life, she felt her heart surge with an overwhelming feeling of self-pity and guilt and bitterness at her own stupidity, at her selfishness and the folly of youth, which had made her leave him but had confidently expected him to do what she wanted and come after her.
A great anguish filled Pia’s heart, lacerated it, a despair so deep that she was beyond tears. She had asked Jai why he wouldn’t take her back in his life and now he had told her. She had lost him, perhaps from the very moment she had walked out and Bani had walked in his life. Any love he had for her was as dead as the dust on ground, buried too deep for him to do anything but despise her.
So it was over – for Jai. But Pia knew now that for her the real hurting had only just began.
Part 3 C
When Jai entered Walia Mansion, he felt almost nauseated by the smell of jasmine flowers mingled with sweets and incense sticks and many other smells, that hit one’s sense during an Indian wedding ceremony. The banisters and staircase were decorated in golden marigold and there was a huge centre-piece made of Roses and Lilies, Jai and Bani’s favorite flowers.
Rano who was rattling out some instructions to Tony noticed Jai standing quietly near the door, a witness to the frenzy of activity going on for the wedding that was to take place in two days time.
She came smiling down to meet him and before he could get in a word, said, ‘You can’t meet Di…and if your force your way up, I will have to tell Massi and then the only way you can get married is by eloping with my sister.’
Jai and Rano both started laughing and he said, ‘I came to give something to Bani…where is she?’
‘She is upstairs in the terrace with the others…getting Mehendi on her hands.’ Rano continued emotionally, ‘Even though you two are getting married for the second time…everything feels so new…so unique. The last time I saw Bani di this happy was after Saahil and Raashi’s sangeet ceremony…’
Jai smiled at her and said, ‘Yes…everything does feel like new…and even though I am an atheist, I will place a request to every God for giving me the strength and ability to fill Bani’s life with happiness and love.’
Rano felt herself tearing up and said, ‘Now you are getting me so emotional…and the ceremony hasn’t even started…I am going to bawl my heart out then.’
Jai laughed and said, ‘I promise not to land up again till the wedding time, but please could you get her to meet me just once…I am in my room..’ and then added with an afterthought, ‘I mean, our room…’
Rano blushed and giggled, running off to the terrace to try and wrangle Bani out of the group of relatives who had gathered her.
Jai was coming to his bedroom after what he felt was ages…the room was spic and span as usual…but the fact that it had been unlived for the past few months could be clearly seen. A wave of strong emotions hit Jai when he looked at his room…the place which had been his private chamber ever since he had turned 5 years old and his parent’s had specially made the room for him. Though hating to sleep all alone at that age, Jai had grown accustomed to have the place all for his own over the years. So much so that, even his parent’s had to knock and enter the room when he had reached his teen years and later he wouldn’t allow anyone inside the room, except when it required cleaning.
And then suddenly, one fine night he had stumbled drunk into his room, only to be shocked by the presence of his newly wed wife, Bani, looking terrified and lost. He had screamed on Jigyasa the next day for letting that ‘girl’ inside his bedroom, but had let her stay on because he realized that it was the only way to stop any gossip taking place in the servants quarters on the issue of Mrs. and Mr. Walia sharing separate rooms.
Bani had been almost unobtrusive…and he had never seen her except as a piece of furniture that had been added to the room. But small things she did began to come to his notice…the way she always took out his night clothes and kept them pressed and ready to wear on his side of the bed. Or his morning tea that was brought to him at sharp 7, just as he was getting up from his sleep. And sometimes when he woke up in the morning, he would notice his shoes kept neatly below the bed and his jacket and tie folded neatly and kept on the chair…which used to remind him how drunk he had been the night before and in spite of his condition, Bani had helped him get to bed.
A smile came over his lips, when he touched the soft sheet…the first morning when he had found Bani sleeping with her head on his arms…he had been so taken aback that at first he wanted to shrug her off roughly, but when he saw her face…innocent, guiless and at such peace with herself, he had let her catch a few winks…even though his arm had felt just as discomfited as his growing feelings for her.
Jai laughed lightly remembering the night when he had come very late, from Roshni’s house and found Bani to be sleeping…and so used was he to her presence, that one look at her and he could guess that she had been awoke till a minute back and was only pretending sleep so that he wouldn’t come to know that she had waited for him this long. In spite of the rancor he held in his heart against Bani at that time, her caring and concern for him had touched his heart…the fact that after his Mother’s death, Bani was the only person who would stay awake this late to see that he had come back home hale and hearty was something that overwhelmed Jai badly. He had found it very difficult to be his usual rude self to her from then onwards.
As the muslin curtains danced away in the evening breeze coming from the Ocean which enjoyed a beautiful view from Jai’s bedroom, the most cherished night of his life evoked every bit of his memory.
9 Months Back
The night of Saahil / Raashi and Anu / Rohit's Sangeet Ceremony
Jai entered the room, his head slightly spinning with the overdose of champagne that Roshni had forced down his throat. The very thought of Roshni, filled Jai’s senses with a nausea of disgust and hatred…..what sort of women was he surrounded by, wondered Jai…and just then, he saw Bani standing in front of the large bay window. Jai was surprised, he definitely wasn’t expecting Bani here….he had searched for her in the Party, but apparently she was nowhere around and he assumed that she must have been in one of the rooms with Rano or Massi. Jai stood rooted to his place and kept staring at the solitary figure in front of him….how ethereal and beautiful she looked, with the pale, silvery moonlight casting a gentle shadow in the room....How fragile, delicate and vulnerable was Bani….so untouched and so pristine…..Jai suddenly jolted out of his thoughts as Bani turned her head to look at him, her tear-strained face registering surprise and then a deep anguish and pain. Jai and Bani kept looking at one another for some time and suddenly the darkened room seemed to illuminate with some unknown force.
“What happened Bani? Why are you crying?”
Jai’s voice expressed a deep concern yet a soothing gentleness as he walked towards Bani, who clenched her fists tightly and turned her face from Jai, but could not stop her tears from flowing. “Bani? Bani? What happened? Look at me. Bani, I am speaking to you.”
Jai was speaking with great alarm and disquiet now as he held Bani gently by her shoulders and turned her towards him, as Bani kept her head bowed down and silently wept. As Bani kept quite, Jai lifted her face by her chin very softly and saw that she was now weeping openly, almost like a child. Jai took Bani’s face in the palms of his hand and asked her again, with the same gentle authority, “What happened Bani? Are you feeling unwell? Or did someone say anything to you? Why did you leave the party all of a sudden?”
Bani looked at Jai in his eyes and the warm protectiveness and strength in them made Bani lose any sense of control that she possessed till now and she broke down completely as she said between sobs, “I want to go back. I want to go away from you. I want to go away from your life.”
Jai was so stunned by what Bani said that he let go of her and with a confused shock kept looking at her for some time, as she racked with sobs. “What are you talking about Bani? Where do you want to go? What happened? For god sake, stop crying and tell me something.”
Bani kept sobbing as she tried to wipe her face dry but a fresh bout of tears besieged her again and in between sobs she said again, “I want to go back to Mount Abu. I don’t want to live in this house.”
Jai was now really stunned and couldn’t in the World fathom what had gone wrong with Bani all of a sudden, he remembered slightly that she looked unwell throughout the party and also a little lost than usual….but what had so happened that made her react in such a manner. As Jai asked Bani in the same gentle but firm tone again, “Alright. If you want to leave, I won’t stop you. But atleast, tell me what happened.”
Jai once again lifted Bani’s tearful face towards him as she looked at Jai and the vortex of emotions that had so tortured her for the past few weeks came tumbling down like a cascading waterfall as she replied back, “You like Roshni, isn’t it? Then I won’t come in between your happiness. I don’t want to become the reason of your grief once again. I will go away.”
As Bani released herself from Jai and started walking ahead, wobbling almost, because of the throbbing headache she had, Jai froze in his spot as he simply could not believe what he had just heard and for sometime Jai just kept staring at nothingness as Bani’s words rang through his mind.
“Stop, Bani.” Jai’s voice was steady and in control now as he held Bani by her arms and holding them with a firm tenderness he stopped Bani and came in front of her and as Bani looked up to Jai, even in her disturbed state, she could see that the man standing in front of her was someone different…someone she had not know previously in person, but only in imagination. Jai’s eyes held something else today and before Bani could say or react further, Jai gathered Bani close to him and holding her gently by her waist, planted a passionate yet warm kiss on her forehead. As a stunned, teary eyed Bani kept staring at Jai, her mind in a turmoil and her body as if in a limbo, Jai’s eyes seemed to hold a love so deep that it seemed to tear the solitary darkness of their room and radiated every inch of Bani’s self. Bani staggered for a while, the drink she had consumed was fogging her head but somehow she knew what had just happened to her was not her dream….no this was for real….the warmth, the caress, the gentle touch on her forehead….it could not be her dream, yet why did everything feel so ethereal…so unreal.
Jai kept holding Bani in his arms, with strength and with gentleness….and then almost as if in a whisper he said, “Who told you that I like Roshni?”
Bani made no reply as she was held in Jai’s arms and looked dazed and overcome by her emotions and then after a moment’s silence answered hesitatingly, “I saw you both in the same room… I saw her with you …she was with you in the room…in the bed.”
Bani now sounded unsure of herself, as the fogginess in her head seemed to hit her senses as she placed her hands on Jai’s chest as if to balance herself from falling down. Jai let out a faint smile and then as he realized what Bani was saying, his smile widened a little bit more till it almost became a soft laughter and he shaked his head gently and answered back, “I have no idea what you are talking about or what you have seen. But nothing happened between me and Roshni. I went to her room and came back as it is. Please trust me.”
Bani looked astonished as she kept staring into Jai’s deep brown eyes and before she could react further, he came closer and with great tenderness planted a kiss on the nape of Bani’s neck and gently shaking her silky hair with his fingers and holding her face close to his own, he closed his eyes as he kissed Bani, with a passion and feeling that he had buried in his heart for the past so many days….it seemed like time froze in an instant and as the tears kept flowing involuntarily from Bani’s eyes, Jai kissed off a droplet from her cheeks, as Bani tingled to the core of her self with Jai’s mesmerizing touch.
Jai lifted Bani deftly in his arms and without as much as a single word, led her towards their bed…..
Bani did not know what made her fall into Jai’s arms with an effortlessness and relief that had previously never existed in their relationship…for Bani it seemed, that this was the most natural progression to their relationship and even in her semi-conscious condition, all Bani could realize was that from now onwards, she never wanted to leave the warmth and protection of Jai’s arms, not tonight and not forever…
Back to the Present
‘Suniye…Suniye…Mr. Walia…’ her soft voice interrupted her thoughts and he looked at her completely dazed.
‘Rano said you were here…I looked for you all over the house…and then I came to this room…’
Jai kept gazing at Bani, her skin pallor had improved and a tinge of rosiness spotted her cheeks, her eyes were just as bright and shining as they had always been…and he saw that one of her hand was covered in Mehendi, up till her elbows.
Feeling extremely shy at the manner in which he was staring at her, she dropped her eyelids and avoided looking at him.
‘I have got you something, I want you to wear when we get married, Bani.’
She raised her eyes and looked at him wonderingly, till he put his hands in his pockets and took out a pair of exquisitely crafted bangles…recognizing them immediatlely, Bani couldn’t help but get her eyes moist.
When she took them slowly from his hands, she asked him in a timid, overpowered voice, ‘Are they for me?’
Jai couldn’t help laughing out loud and he repeated the same words that he had once used for a very similar occasion, ‘No…its for me…I have actually started wearing Bangles.’
Flushing deeply and overwhelmed by sentiments, Bani broke down crying gently, with her head buried in his chest.
He let her cry for sometime and then lifting her head, looked at her face and whispered in a specious tone, ‘Don’t come too near me…I have just had a very vivid journey back the memory lane and you are tempting me to repeat history once again right now…’
Before Bani could understand what he was trying to say, Rano had knoced on the door and putting only her head in spoke mischievously, ‘Meeting time over…Di, please come out before Massi or Daadi see both of you and Mr. Walia, Tarunji is looking for you all over the place and creating a big ruckus.’
Bani all but ran out of the room, clutching the Kangans, while Jai muttered something about Tarun being the death of him someday and got out of the room, locking it, to be opened now on only on his wedding night.
To be continued...
Part
4 A
The wedding day began at 6 in the morning with Massi initiating Lord Ganesha’s name and prayed to ward off all evils so that the ceremony is a success and bless the couple for lifelong happiness and love.
Bani had got up early and changed into a simple sari for the Ganesh Pooja, but her face glowed so much that in spite of feeling extremely emotional, Rano couldn’t help teasing her sister alongside Raashi.
The gathering numbered to some 50 odd people and since everyone was part of the family, there was much chit chatter going on. Bani sat in front of the mirror, slightly nervous as Raashi, Rano and Jai’s cousin, Karuna helped get her dressed for the ceremony.
Bani’s wedding Sari looked exquisitely beautiful, done in deep red and green, both colors of auspiciousness and all the jewels she was going to wear was a gift from Jai, which had once belonged to his Mother. All the three women were gushing over the elaborate work on the Kundan set that Bani was going to wear, when Rano noticed the look of sadness in Bani’s eyes. Taking the opportunity of seeing Raashi and Karuna engaged in a conversation over the wedding, Rano came near Bani and sitting besides her, spoke softly, ‘What happened Di? Why do you look so sad? And that too today?’
The tears that had stopped itself in her eyes spilled gently on her cheeks and the only word she said was, ‘Pia.’
Rano closed her eyes in exasperation and answered back, ‘Oh God di…when will you understand? Its best that Pia is not here…and if you take my advice, please keep her out of your and Mr. Walia’s life from today onwards…You…you have no idea what she was trying to do when you had left this house…’
Rano continued, not really wanting to say these things, but not wanting to keep her sister in the dark any longer. ‘Di…Pia still thinks that there is nothing between you and Mr. Walia…that you both don’t love each other…and that she made a mistake in leaving him…she…she tried to come back to his life…I saw all her shameless attempts…the very fact that she continued living here after you had gone away proves that her intentions were wrong.’
Sensing Bani’s complete silence on the issue, Rano said hurriedly, ‘Don’t get me wrong…Mr. Walia did not for once encourage her in any way…he was always such a gentleman…he could have got her thrown away from his house easily…but just for your sake…knowing that your happiness was in me and Pia…he let her stay in this house…it was only till I had a huge fight with her one day that she walked out from here…but I know that she still harbors a hope of getting the place that is only yours for keeping.’
They both plunged in silence till Bani spoke quietly, ‘That was only because Pia did not know the truth about Mr. Walia and me…if I had told her even once that I loved my husband, she would have done everything she could to save my marriage.’
Rano looked on disbelievingly and said, ‘You really believe that, Di? Pia is the same girl who left you to face everyone’s anger and hatred…and now she doesn’t even have that marriage for which she trampled upon Mr. Walia’s heart and put our life’s to hold.’
Bani spoke gently, wiping her tears, ‘Everyone makes mistakes, Rano…you, me, Mr. Walia…and if we can be forgiven, then why should Pia be the exception…as far as her intentions regarding Mr. Walia goes…I don’t know what she feels about him…or whether she ever held any feelings for him in the first place…all I know is that I love that man to death and I will do what I can to give him every happiness on Earth…and now I know that his happiness come from me…so if you are thinking that I am going to throw away my marriage for my sister’s sake, you are wrong.’
Rano looked amazed and said, ‘Di…I just thought if you could step in to take her place with Mr. Walia, then…’
Bani smiled faintly and added, ‘Then, I could step back and give Pia back her place? There is a whole world’s difference between making our choices and then giving up on what we have already chosen. When we decide on something, we take a risk into the unknown…and when we have made that decision…then it becomes our destiny. We can chose our paths, Rano…but we cannot alter the course of our journey afterwards.’
There was a stunned silence from Rano, till she gave an affectionate smile and said, ‘Now I know why you and Jeeju belong came back to each other...before you, only his heart had been captured...but when you became a part of his life, you won over his soul, di!’
‘Kya baatein ho rahin hain, dono behnon mein?’ Massi had just entered, bringing with her a silver thaali which held a Mangalsutra and a box of vermillion. Bani wiped her eyes and touched Massi’s feet to be blessed by her and then started getting dressed.
Jai had arrived at Walia Mansion along with Tarun and the sounds of laughter were coming upto Bani’s room, making her blush even more. Rano and the others had gone downstairs, leaving Bani on her own for some time before the ceremony begun. Bedecked in shades of crimson and green, she made a striking picture of beauty and serenity, as she found herself staring back at her reflection. Her thoughts were broken when she saw Pia standing behind her, looking at Bani through the mirror.
Stunned Bani turned to face her sister and whispered, ‘Pia…you came?’
Tears streamed down Pia’s face, when she bent down to sit on the floor and taking Bani’s palms in her own, said, ‘I missed your wedding last time…how could I do it again, Di?’
In between smiles and tears, both the sisters hugged, till Rano came rushing by to get Bani downstairs and kept standing at the door, looking at both her elder sisters.
Pia noticed Rano and giving a watery smile said, ‘Agreed, that we have never been the best of friends, Rano…but today let us make up like old times…for Bani di’s happiness.’
Crying like a child, Rano rushed towards both her sisters and Bani enveloped Rano and Pia in her arms. Wiping her tears, Bani looked towards Pia and Rano and said, ‘We are all a part of each other’s lifes…and whatever happens in the future, we can never be cut off from one another…our hearts will always belong together.’
Dressed in a simple Black Sherwani, with his hair pulled back neatly and accessorized with just his signature watch, Jai looked so handsome that Bani couldn’t help staring at him, till he looked back at her, making her flush severely and immediately put her head down. Jai couldn’t resist quipping at her when she was made to sit down besides him in the Lagan Vedi, ‘You weren’t asleep that night when I came in late. You were just pretending to be asleep, right?’
At first Bani couldn’t comprehend what he had just said, but when she did, the smile refused to go off her face.
With the priest chanting invocations, he called upon the groom’s and bride’s sister to come forward and tie the gathbandhan. Both Jigyasa and Pia looked at each other silently and in that one moment, realized how much their selfishness and recklessness had ended up giving untold grief and hurt to the two people whom they loved the most in the world.
Quietly they both stepped forward and taking a silent personal vow to never become the reason of Jai and Bani’s unhappiness again, tied the ends of Jai’s safa with Bani’s sari.
The marriage ceremony ended with Jai dipping his finger ring in the pot of vermillion and smearing it across Bani’s forehead.
‘Vivah sampan hua…ab aap pati aur patni hain.’ Finished the priest, and everyone had just begun congratulation the couple, when Tarun quipped, ‘Eureka Panditji…this is one thing that none of us knew…Jai and Bani are a couple!’
Jai began laughing along with everyone and retorted back, ‘Massi, please make sure this man doesn’t stay back for the post-marriage dinner tonight.’
Tarun replied back by saying that the only way he could be made to miss the post-marriage dinner was by getting him forcibly thrown out of Walia Mansion and he knew that Bani would never let Jai get away with that, after all he was her once upon a time lawyer.
Part 4 B
The dinner finished and everyone assembled in the living room, when Jai kept looking at his watch, hoping that someone would take the hint and excuse both him and Bani as early as possible. But with Tarun and Aditya around, it looked impossible for some time at least! Tarun had arranged for a game to play and despite Jai’s protests, ended up agreeing him and Bani to play.
Tarun cleared his voice dramatically and announced the rules of the game, ‘Well as it goes…Adi and I have come up with a list of questions which we will ask Jai and his much better half, Bani…to see how much they know each other!’
Smiling flirtatiously at a very shy looking Bani, Tarun said sweetly, ‘Bani, being the lovely lady that you are, the first question is for you. What is Jai’s favorite color?’
Everyone looked towards Bani and Jai felt confident that she could never guess it in one go, since he did not ever remember mentioning such a thing to her, but without missing a beat, she answered back softly, ‘Black.’
Tarun gave an approving look back at the paper he was holding and said, ‘That’s bang on target! Well done! Jai, you have a tough act to follow, since your wife has started out so well!’
Turning to look comically at a confident looking Jai, he said, ‘Okay Jai, now your turn. Tell us Bani’s favorite color?’
Jai arched his eyebrows and looked a bit embarrassed now till Rano, not able to withhold her laughter at the predicament his brother-in-law was facing, helped him out. ‘Jeeju…I will give you a hint…it starts with the letter P.’
Jai smiled and said, ‘I knew it…Its purple.’
Everyone looked towards Tarun and Rano and they both burst out laughing and yelled, ‘Wrong…’
‘Is it Puce?’ and the added wildly, ‘Pomegranate Red?’
Tarun almost doubled with laughter and said, ‘Pomegranate Red? Kya baat hain, genius.’
Rano hit her head and laughingly said, ‘Its Pink.’
Jai looked stupefied and remembered how once he had selected a Pink colored Sari for her and she had told him that it was her favorite color.
‘Bani, its your turn and I know you will outdo this duffer easily.’
‘Hey, whom are you calling a duffer?’ retorted back an amused Jai.
‘Tujhe hi bula raha hoon, Mr. Pomegranate Red.’
Everyone burst out laughing uncontrollably at Tarun’s humor.
‘Bani, this one might be slightly tough…but lets see if you can give it a try. If you can answer even 3 out of 5, you win this round. How many colors of shirt does Jai have?’
Nachiket grinned and said, ‘Come on Tarunji, this is too tough…how can Bhabhi remember Jai Bhaiyaa’s shirt color?’
Before Tarun could answer him back, Bani spoke in her subdued, soft voice, ‘7 Whites, 5 Oxford Blues, 7 Blacks, 3 Grey’s and 2 Khakhi colored.’
Everyone stared at Bani, stunned and she felt so embarrassed, that she refused to look up, twiddling the edge of her Sari.
Till Tarun started clapping and said, ‘Bravo…Well done Bani’ and then looking at a flabbergasted looking Jai said, ‘Learn something! Pomegranate Red indeed.’
When the jovial laughter had died down, Tarun took the paper in his hand and coughing in an exaggerated manner addressed Jai, ‘Now is your chance for redemption…tell us what is Bani’s favorite dish?’
Looking like a fish out of water, Jai hazarded a guess, ‘Um…is it Chicken Tikka?’ and then looking at the expression on Bani’s face, he hastily added, ‘Or some Chicken dish…definitely…’
Tarun grinned like a monkey and said, ‘Wrong my dear friend…it’s neither Chicken Tikka or any dish related to the feathered species…’
Rano added not able to hide her smile at Jai’s complete lack of knowledge in regard to Bani and said, ‘Jeejaji…don’t you know, Bani di is a vegetarian. And she likes Paneer Kofta the most.’
All that Jai could say was, ‘Oh…’
Tarun turned to look at Bani and said, ‘I have given up all hopes on your husband, now you answer me. What is the one dish that Jai hates the most and would never eat knowingly?’
She added quietly, with a smile on her lips, ‘Methi Palak.’
‘Correct again! Clap for the lady!’ Tarun yelped till Jai said in an agitated voice, ‘But I ate Methi Palak once…’
The usually quiet Ranveer chipped in, ‘Only because you didn’t realize the taste of the dish till you were told about it…she cooked it so well.’
Rano gave an appreciative look at Ranveer and wondered when he would get over his ‘Bramhachari’ nonsense once and for all.
‘Alright, Jai one last question for you…salvage your fast sinking reputation by this one…’
Jai interrupted Tarun and looking at Bani, smiled and said, ‘Let her ask the last question.’
A collective sigh went around the room, making Bani blush furiously and after much prodding and instigation, she managed to look up at Jai and spoke with extreme shyness, ‘I have no question to ask…’
‘Oh come on Bhabhi…yahi mauka hain! You have to make Bhaiyaa do something atleast.’ A chorus of approval went around and Jai shrugged his hands across to Bani, indicating that there was no other way of escape.
She spoke shyly, almost inaudible, ‘Then please tell him to sing a song…’
Aditya immediately yelled out, ‘Oh No…torture…Bani, what did you ask him to do? Did you forget the last time Jai took on the mike? My ears still sting.’
There were wild guffaws and Jai kept refusing to sing, till Bani looked up at him and spoke softly, ‘Gayie na…’
Tarun said, ‘Uff…Bani, if you speak so sweetly, not only will be sing, he might dance for you too…’
Jai went, ‘Oh God, you guys…’
Aditya and Tarun immediately begged him to sing, ‘Promise, we won’t laugh Jai…just make sure we get the medical insurance for our ears!’
Laughter followed and a very awkward looking Jai complied for Bani and sang a tuneless but heart-rending version of, ‘Tujhe dekh dekh sona…’
Bani started clapping first and the loudest and kept clapping till Tarun, Nachiket and Aditya started teasing her mercilessly for listening to Jai in such a mesmerized manner.
Jai looked around for some way of escaping to his bedroom, as the clock ticked by and it was Massi to the rescue once again as she rubbed Jai’s hair and remarked to Tarun in a crossed manner, ‘Kyon mere Munna ke peeche pade ho? Its almost 11, and both of them look so tired…let them go now.’
Tarun coughed deliberately and said, ‘Of course…when did I stop him?’
Laughter followed and Bani was taken to the bedroom by a quiet yet happy Pia, Rano and Raashi, who kept giggling and making Bani feel more bashful than ever before.
Before they left the room, Pia stopped and turning to face her sister sitting in the flower bedecked bed, held her hand and spoke emotionally, ‘I wish you and Mr. Walia every happiness in the world, Di…no one deserves to be with him more than you and no one needs you more than Mr. Walia does…keep smiling like this always.’
Bani’s eyes moistened and they both hugged one another warmly.
Part 4 C
Jai was about to enter his bedroom, when Nachiket came from behind and hesitating a bit, spoke up, ‘Bhaiyya…shall we go?’
Looking bewildered, Jai answered back, ‘Go where?’
Nachiket replied in the same serious tone, ‘To the study…the conference call is about to begin?’
Completely at sea, Jai said, ‘What conference call are you talking about Nachiket? And this time of the hour?’
‘Yes Bhaiyya…the concall with Mr. McWilliams and his team…and this hour is perfect…since its just struck 9 am in New York…’
Looking astounded, Jai said, ‘You kept a conference call with the client for tonight?’
Nachiket, giving an innocent air of one who has no idea about anything said, ‘Yes, isn’t it great? Ranveer and I were finding it so difficult to get a convenient time slot and Mr. McWilliams finally agreed for tonight…it won’t be long I guess…just 3 or 4 hours at the max.’
Jai spoke slowly, ‘It would get over at 3 in the morning?’
Nachiket replied back, ‘Yes…but incase they want to discuss some additional points, it might get stretched up till 4 too…but not later than that, I guess.’
Looking trapped and dazed, Jai said, ‘So I have to come NOW?’
Getting a sweet smile on his face, Nachiket said, ‘If you start walking to the study now, we would be able to join Ranveer and the others in 5 minutes. Chale?’
Jai stood at the door, stumped, wondering what was happening and then shrugging off his head, spoke in a despondent voice, ‘Okay…I’ll just tell Bani to go off to sleep…’
Nachiket could contain no longer and in-between a flurry of apologies and laughter confessed that they were just playing a prank on Jai.
When Jai held Nachiket’s neck in the grip of his fingers, he squealed and yelped between laughing out, ‘It was Tarun and Adityaji’s idea, Bhaiyya…I was just made the scapegoat…honest, Bhaiyaa…Ouch…that hurt.’
‘Its going to hurt further…you brat!’ Jai laughed when Tarun and Aditya joined in.
‘Tarun, tu sudharega nahin…and Adi, you too?’
Adi flayed his hands and said, ‘Kya karoon? The last time you got married, you sent off poor Bani packing from your room…so I just felt that the roles had to be reversed this time…but this Nachiket couldn’t continue our drama!’
Tarun added, ‘And we just wanted Bani to have that extra time for the idea to sink in that she is one of the lucky ones to be married twice in one life…but unfortunately to the same person, twice over.’
Everyone began laughing and Jai said, ‘unfortunately, ah?’
Tarun and Aditya suddenly went emotional and said, ‘Nahin yaar…we are just really happy for both of you…so happy, that its becoming tough to hold back our emotions and tears…that is why we are trying to pull your leg…you know, guys are not supposed to cry and all in such occasions!’
Jai grinned at his two best friends and bear hugged them both, followed by Nachiket and Ranveer and finally got to his room, securely locking the door from inside, not wanting to risk any of Aditya or Tarun’s pranks on him and Bani anymore.
Jai found Bani standing near the huge French window of their bedroom, staring at the full moon that had alighted everything in the sky.
‘Did the moon tell you how jealous it is tonight?’ Taken aback at his sudden arrival, Bani turned to face him, only till she saw the look of passionate love in his deep, dark eyes and blushed profusely, followed by lowering her face.
Lifting her chin delicately, Jai looked into her lowered eyes and said, ‘I wish I had a way around words….and I could tell you what this night means to me…what being with you means to me…what having you in my life once again means to me.’
Bani looked up at him and finally finding a voice said softly, ‘I never needed words to understand you feelings…they just came to me on its own.’
They kept staring at one another, till Bani noticed with shock that Jai’s eyes had moistened a bit and keeping her henna clad palms on his cheeks, she said, ‘Tears?’
He replied back quietly, ‘When there is so much happiness, the only way to let some out is through them…’
Without any other word, he clasped her bangle laden hands and pulled her towards himself, drawing her in a warm embrace and beginning the endless night with a deep, passionate kiss.
It was the start of a new life…yet the continuation of a love for which fate had chosen Jai and Bani.
The wedding day began at 6 in the morning with Massi initiating Lord Ganesha’s name and prayed to ward off all evils so that the ceremony is a success and bless the couple for lifelong happiness and love.
Bani had got up early and changed into a simple sari for the Ganesh Pooja, but her face glowed so much that in spite of feeling extremely emotional, Rano couldn’t help teasing her sister alongside Raashi.
The gathering numbered to some 50 odd people and since everyone was part of the family, there was much chit chatter going on. Bani sat in front of the mirror, slightly nervous as Raashi, Rano and Jai’s cousin, Karuna helped get her dressed for the ceremony.
Bani’s wedding Sari looked exquisitely beautiful, done in deep red and green, both colors of auspiciousness and all the jewels she was going to wear was a gift from Jai, which had once belonged to his Mother. All the three women were gushing over the elaborate work on the Kundan set that Bani was going to wear, when Rano noticed the look of sadness in Bani’s eyes. Taking the opportunity of seeing Raashi and Karuna engaged in a conversation over the wedding, Rano came near Bani and sitting besides her, spoke softly, ‘What happened Di? Why do you look so sad? And that too today?’
The tears that had stopped itself in her eyes spilled gently on her cheeks and the only word she said was, ‘Pia.’
Rano closed her eyes in exasperation and answered back, ‘Oh God di…when will you understand? Its best that Pia is not here…and if you take my advice, please keep her out of your and Mr. Walia’s life from today onwards…You…you have no idea what she was trying to do when you had left this house…’
Rano continued, not really wanting to say these things, but not wanting to keep her sister in the dark any longer. ‘Di…Pia still thinks that there is nothing between you and Mr. Walia…that you both don’t love each other…and that she made a mistake in leaving him…she…she tried to come back to his life…I saw all her shameless attempts…the very fact that she continued living here after you had gone away proves that her intentions were wrong.’
Sensing Bani’s complete silence on the issue, Rano said hurriedly, ‘Don’t get me wrong…Mr. Walia did not for once encourage her in any way…he was always such a gentleman…he could have got her thrown away from his house easily…but just for your sake…knowing that your happiness was in me and Pia…he let her stay in this house…it was only till I had a huge fight with her one day that she walked out from here…but I know that she still harbors a hope of getting the place that is only yours for keeping.’
They both plunged in silence till Bani spoke quietly, ‘That was only because Pia did not know the truth about Mr. Walia and me…if I had told her even once that I loved my husband, she would have done everything she could to save my marriage.’
Rano looked on disbelievingly and said, ‘You really believe that, Di? Pia is the same girl who left you to face everyone’s anger and hatred…and now she doesn’t even have that marriage for which she trampled upon Mr. Walia’s heart and put our life’s to hold.’
Bani spoke gently, wiping her tears, ‘Everyone makes mistakes, Rano…you, me, Mr. Walia…and if we can be forgiven, then why should Pia be the exception…as far as her intentions regarding Mr. Walia goes…I don’t know what she feels about him…or whether she ever held any feelings for him in the first place…all I know is that I love that man to death and I will do what I can to give him every happiness on Earth…and now I know that his happiness come from me…so if you are thinking that I am going to throw away my marriage for my sister’s sake, you are wrong.’
Rano looked amazed and said, ‘Di…I just thought if you could step in to take her place with Mr. Walia, then…’
Bani smiled faintly and added, ‘Then, I could step back and give Pia back her place? There is a whole world’s difference between making our choices and then giving up on what we have already chosen. When we decide on something, we take a risk into the unknown…and when we have made that decision…then it becomes our destiny. We can chose our paths, Rano…but we cannot alter the course of our journey afterwards.’
There was a stunned silence from Rano, till she gave an affectionate smile and said, ‘Now I know why you and Jeeju belong came back to each other...before you, only his heart had been captured...but when you became a part of his life, you won over his soul, di!’
‘Kya baatein ho rahin hain, dono behnon mein?’ Massi had just entered, bringing with her a silver thaali which held a Mangalsutra and a box of vermillion. Bani wiped her eyes and touched Massi’s feet to be blessed by her and then started getting dressed.
Jai had arrived at Walia Mansion along with Tarun and the sounds of laughter were coming upto Bani’s room, making her blush even more. Rano and the others had gone downstairs, leaving Bani on her own for some time before the ceremony begun. Bedecked in shades of crimson and green, she made a striking picture of beauty and serenity, as she found herself staring back at her reflection. Her thoughts were broken when she saw Pia standing behind her, looking at Bani through the mirror.
Stunned Bani turned to face her sister and whispered, ‘Pia…you came?’
Tears streamed down Pia’s face, when she bent down to sit on the floor and taking Bani’s palms in her own, said, ‘I missed your wedding last time…how could I do it again, Di?’
In between smiles and tears, both the sisters hugged, till Rano came rushing by to get Bani downstairs and kept standing at the door, looking at both her elder sisters.
Pia noticed Rano and giving a watery smile said, ‘Agreed, that we have never been the best of friends, Rano…but today let us make up like old times…for Bani di’s happiness.’
Crying like a child, Rano rushed towards both her sisters and Bani enveloped Rano and Pia in her arms. Wiping her tears, Bani looked towards Pia and Rano and said, ‘We are all a part of each other’s lifes…and whatever happens in the future, we can never be cut off from one another…our hearts will always belong together.’
Dressed in a simple Black Sherwani, with his hair pulled back neatly and accessorized with just his signature watch, Jai looked so handsome that Bani couldn’t help staring at him, till he looked back at her, making her flush severely and immediately put her head down. Jai couldn’t resist quipping at her when she was made to sit down besides him in the Lagan Vedi, ‘You weren’t asleep that night when I came in late. You were just pretending to be asleep, right?’
At first Bani couldn’t comprehend what he had just said, but when she did, the smile refused to go off her face.
With the priest chanting invocations, he called upon the groom’s and bride’s sister to come forward and tie the gathbandhan. Both Jigyasa and Pia looked at each other silently and in that one moment, realized how much their selfishness and recklessness had ended up giving untold grief and hurt to the two people whom they loved the most in the world.
Quietly they both stepped forward and taking a silent personal vow to never become the reason of Jai and Bani’s unhappiness again, tied the ends of Jai’s safa with Bani’s sari.
The marriage ceremony ended with Jai dipping his finger ring in the pot of vermillion and smearing it across Bani’s forehead.
‘Vivah sampan hua…ab aap pati aur patni hain.’ Finished the priest, and everyone had just begun congratulation the couple, when Tarun quipped, ‘Eureka Panditji…this is one thing that none of us knew…Jai and Bani are a couple!’
Jai began laughing along with everyone and retorted back, ‘Massi, please make sure this man doesn’t stay back for the post-marriage dinner tonight.’
Tarun replied back by saying that the only way he could be made to miss the post-marriage dinner was by getting him forcibly thrown out of Walia Mansion and he knew that Bani would never let Jai get away with that, after all he was her once upon a time lawyer.
Part 4 B
The dinner finished and everyone assembled in the living room, when Jai kept looking at his watch, hoping that someone would take the hint and excuse both him and Bani as early as possible. But with Tarun and Aditya around, it looked impossible for some time at least! Tarun had arranged for a game to play and despite Jai’s protests, ended up agreeing him and Bani to play.
Tarun cleared his voice dramatically and announced the rules of the game, ‘Well as it goes…Adi and I have come up with a list of questions which we will ask Jai and his much better half, Bani…to see how much they know each other!’
Smiling flirtatiously at a very shy looking Bani, Tarun said sweetly, ‘Bani, being the lovely lady that you are, the first question is for you. What is Jai’s favorite color?’
Everyone looked towards Bani and Jai felt confident that she could never guess it in one go, since he did not ever remember mentioning such a thing to her, but without missing a beat, she answered back softly, ‘Black.’
Tarun gave an approving look back at the paper he was holding and said, ‘That’s bang on target! Well done! Jai, you have a tough act to follow, since your wife has started out so well!’
Turning to look comically at a confident looking Jai, he said, ‘Okay Jai, now your turn. Tell us Bani’s favorite color?’
Jai arched his eyebrows and looked a bit embarrassed now till Rano, not able to withhold her laughter at the predicament his brother-in-law was facing, helped him out. ‘Jeeju…I will give you a hint…it starts with the letter P.’
Jai smiled and said, ‘I knew it…Its purple.’
Everyone looked towards Tarun and Rano and they both burst out laughing and yelled, ‘Wrong…’
‘Is it Puce?’ and the added wildly, ‘Pomegranate Red?’
Tarun almost doubled with laughter and said, ‘Pomegranate Red? Kya baat hain, genius.’
Rano hit her head and laughingly said, ‘Its Pink.’
Jai looked stupefied and remembered how once he had selected a Pink colored Sari for her and she had told him that it was her favorite color.
‘Bani, its your turn and I know you will outdo this duffer easily.’
‘Hey, whom are you calling a duffer?’ retorted back an amused Jai.
‘Tujhe hi bula raha hoon, Mr. Pomegranate Red.’
Everyone burst out laughing uncontrollably at Tarun’s humor.
‘Bani, this one might be slightly tough…but lets see if you can give it a try. If you can answer even 3 out of 5, you win this round. How many colors of shirt does Jai have?’
Nachiket grinned and said, ‘Come on Tarunji, this is too tough…how can Bhabhi remember Jai Bhaiyaa’s shirt color?’
Before Tarun could answer him back, Bani spoke in her subdued, soft voice, ‘7 Whites, 5 Oxford Blues, 7 Blacks, 3 Grey’s and 2 Khakhi colored.’
Everyone stared at Bani, stunned and she felt so embarrassed, that she refused to look up, twiddling the edge of her Sari.
Till Tarun started clapping and said, ‘Bravo…Well done Bani’ and then looking at a flabbergasted looking Jai said, ‘Learn something! Pomegranate Red indeed.’
When the jovial laughter had died down, Tarun took the paper in his hand and coughing in an exaggerated manner addressed Jai, ‘Now is your chance for redemption…tell us what is Bani’s favorite dish?’
Looking like a fish out of water, Jai hazarded a guess, ‘Um…is it Chicken Tikka?’ and then looking at the expression on Bani’s face, he hastily added, ‘Or some Chicken dish…definitely…’
Tarun grinned like a monkey and said, ‘Wrong my dear friend…it’s neither Chicken Tikka or any dish related to the feathered species…’
Rano added not able to hide her smile at Jai’s complete lack of knowledge in regard to Bani and said, ‘Jeejaji…don’t you know, Bani di is a vegetarian. And she likes Paneer Kofta the most.’
All that Jai could say was, ‘Oh…’
Tarun turned to look at Bani and said, ‘I have given up all hopes on your husband, now you answer me. What is the one dish that Jai hates the most and would never eat knowingly?’
She added quietly, with a smile on her lips, ‘Methi Palak.’
‘Correct again! Clap for the lady!’ Tarun yelped till Jai said in an agitated voice, ‘But I ate Methi Palak once…’
The usually quiet Ranveer chipped in, ‘Only because you didn’t realize the taste of the dish till you were told about it…she cooked it so well.’
Rano gave an appreciative look at Ranveer and wondered when he would get over his ‘Bramhachari’ nonsense once and for all.
‘Alright, Jai one last question for you…salvage your fast sinking reputation by this one…’
Jai interrupted Tarun and looking at Bani, smiled and said, ‘Let her ask the last question.’
A collective sigh went around the room, making Bani blush furiously and after much prodding and instigation, she managed to look up at Jai and spoke with extreme shyness, ‘I have no question to ask…’
‘Oh come on Bhabhi…yahi mauka hain! You have to make Bhaiyaa do something atleast.’ A chorus of approval went around and Jai shrugged his hands across to Bani, indicating that there was no other way of escape.
She spoke shyly, almost inaudible, ‘Then please tell him to sing a song…’
Aditya immediately yelled out, ‘Oh No…torture…Bani, what did you ask him to do? Did you forget the last time Jai took on the mike? My ears still sting.’
There were wild guffaws and Jai kept refusing to sing, till Bani looked up at him and spoke softly, ‘Gayie na…’
Tarun said, ‘Uff…Bani, if you speak so sweetly, not only will be sing, he might dance for you too…’
Jai went, ‘Oh God, you guys…’
Aditya and Tarun immediately begged him to sing, ‘Promise, we won’t laugh Jai…just make sure we get the medical insurance for our ears!’
Laughter followed and a very awkward looking Jai complied for Bani and sang a tuneless but heart-rending version of, ‘Tujhe dekh dekh sona…’
Bani started clapping first and the loudest and kept clapping till Tarun, Nachiket and Aditya started teasing her mercilessly for listening to Jai in such a mesmerized manner.
Jai looked around for some way of escaping to his bedroom, as the clock ticked by and it was Massi to the rescue once again as she rubbed Jai’s hair and remarked to Tarun in a crossed manner, ‘Kyon mere Munna ke peeche pade ho? Its almost 11, and both of them look so tired…let them go now.’
Tarun coughed deliberately and said, ‘Of course…when did I stop him?’
Laughter followed and Bani was taken to the bedroom by a quiet yet happy Pia, Rano and Raashi, who kept giggling and making Bani feel more bashful than ever before.
Before they left the room, Pia stopped and turning to face her sister sitting in the flower bedecked bed, held her hand and spoke emotionally, ‘I wish you and Mr. Walia every happiness in the world, Di…no one deserves to be with him more than you and no one needs you more than Mr. Walia does…keep smiling like this always.’
Bani’s eyes moistened and they both hugged one another warmly.
Part 4 C
Jai was about to enter his bedroom, when Nachiket came from behind and hesitating a bit, spoke up, ‘Bhaiyya…shall we go?’
Looking bewildered, Jai answered back, ‘Go where?’
Nachiket replied in the same serious tone, ‘To the study…the conference call is about to begin?’
Completely at sea, Jai said, ‘What conference call are you talking about Nachiket? And this time of the hour?’
‘Yes Bhaiyya…the concall with Mr. McWilliams and his team…and this hour is perfect…since its just struck 9 am in New York…’
Looking astounded, Jai said, ‘You kept a conference call with the client for tonight?’
Nachiket, giving an innocent air of one who has no idea about anything said, ‘Yes, isn’t it great? Ranveer and I were finding it so difficult to get a convenient time slot and Mr. McWilliams finally agreed for tonight…it won’t be long I guess…just 3 or 4 hours at the max.’
Jai spoke slowly, ‘It would get over at 3 in the morning?’
Nachiket replied back, ‘Yes…but incase they want to discuss some additional points, it might get stretched up till 4 too…but not later than that, I guess.’
Looking trapped and dazed, Jai said, ‘So I have to come NOW?’
Getting a sweet smile on his face, Nachiket said, ‘If you start walking to the study now, we would be able to join Ranveer and the others in 5 minutes. Chale?’
Jai stood at the door, stumped, wondering what was happening and then shrugging off his head, spoke in a despondent voice, ‘Okay…I’ll just tell Bani to go off to sleep…’
Nachiket could contain no longer and in-between a flurry of apologies and laughter confessed that they were just playing a prank on Jai.
When Jai held Nachiket’s neck in the grip of his fingers, he squealed and yelped between laughing out, ‘It was Tarun and Adityaji’s idea, Bhaiyya…I was just made the scapegoat…honest, Bhaiyaa…Ouch…that hurt.’
‘Its going to hurt further…you brat!’ Jai laughed when Tarun and Aditya joined in.
‘Tarun, tu sudharega nahin…and Adi, you too?’
Adi flayed his hands and said, ‘Kya karoon? The last time you got married, you sent off poor Bani packing from your room…so I just felt that the roles had to be reversed this time…but this Nachiket couldn’t continue our drama!’
Tarun added, ‘And we just wanted Bani to have that extra time for the idea to sink in that she is one of the lucky ones to be married twice in one life…but unfortunately to the same person, twice over.’
Everyone began laughing and Jai said, ‘unfortunately, ah?’
Tarun and Aditya suddenly went emotional and said, ‘Nahin yaar…we are just really happy for both of you…so happy, that its becoming tough to hold back our emotions and tears…that is why we are trying to pull your leg…you know, guys are not supposed to cry and all in such occasions!’
Jai grinned at his two best friends and bear hugged them both, followed by Nachiket and Ranveer and finally got to his room, securely locking the door from inside, not wanting to risk any of Aditya or Tarun’s pranks on him and Bani anymore.
Jai found Bani standing near the huge French window of their bedroom, staring at the full moon that had alighted everything in the sky.
‘Did the moon tell you how jealous it is tonight?’ Taken aback at his sudden arrival, Bani turned to face him, only till she saw the look of passionate love in his deep, dark eyes and blushed profusely, followed by lowering her face.
Lifting her chin delicately, Jai looked into her lowered eyes and said, ‘I wish I had a way around words….and I could tell you what this night means to me…what being with you means to me…what having you in my life once again means to me.’
Bani looked up at him and finally finding a voice said softly, ‘I never needed words to understand you feelings…they just came to me on its own.’
They kept staring at one another, till Bani noticed with shock that Jai’s eyes had moistened a bit and keeping her henna clad palms on his cheeks, she said, ‘Tears?’
He replied back quietly, ‘When there is so much happiness, the only way to let some out is through them…’
Without any other word, he clasped her bangle laden hands and pulled her towards himself, drawing her in a warm embrace and beginning the endless night with a deep, passionate kiss.
It was the start of a new life…yet the continuation of a love for which fate had chosen Jai and Bani.
Hi, do u have any idea if rekha di is still writing FF's or any mode of contact to her
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