Later that evening
Meera had come back after her extended lunch time which included a whole lot of shopping as evidenced by the number of bags she brought back.
Saurabh and Pooja had finished watching their movie and were sitting in the porch, playing cards and deciding on what to order for food, since Bani wasn’t around and none of them could cook to save their lives.
Ignoring them pointedly, Meera breezed inside the house, calling out for Abdul to deliver the parcels to her room and fix her a drink.
Pooja snickered and remarked, ‘I can bet Abdul will mix something undesirable in the drink and give it to that witch!’
Saurabh laughed and replied back, ‘Just imagine! She came here stating that she wanted to overlook our work and Madam vanished from lunch time! Does she have any idea of what sort of work we do?’
‘I have my doubts, Saurabh! It’s a pity, Bani is not as sharp with her tongue as she is talented with her work, else she could have shown that Meera her right place!’
‘Well, we have dear Abdul for that!’ came back Saurabh, making Pooja splutter with laughter.
They were planning to have another round of Rummy, when they heard the front entrance gates creaking open and Abdul coming out running, with an air of importance.
‘What happened Abdul? Whose Car is that?’ asked Pooja, standing up and looking at the powerful Land Rover driving in through the gates.
‘Bade Sahib!’ blurted out Abdul, in half panic and bewilderment.
Saurabh and Pooja looked flustered and shocked, without any reason to do so and said to him, ‘But you said that Mr. Walia never comes here on weekdays! How come…’
‘I don’t know Madamji. His driver…Kailash just called up to say that he was coming! Okay…I have to rush now.’ And saying that he went running towards the main gate.
Saurabh and Pooja did not know what to do, especially with Bani not around and they just picked up the stack of cards and rushed inside, only to be met by Meera.
‘What happened? Why do you look so white-faced?’ she snapped.
‘Bade Sahib…I mean, Mr. Walia has come! So unexpected!’ blurted out Saurabh, evoking first an expression of shock and then a smug smile from Meera.
‘What is so unexpected? Its his house! Besides, I am sure he knew that I was coming too…so clearly he came to meet me!’ she announced, sweeping past them and looking out eagerly. This was going good…only a few hours earlier, she was regretting having coming to Delhi to help with the wedding, realizing that (a) Jai hardly ever visited the Farmhouse and (b) she had no idea regarding the arrangements required in a wedding nor had any interest in running around for it, especially not for Purva, whom she detested.
She had only jumped at Nachiket’s offer in order to get close with Jai, who had fascinated her in their very first meeting. And after having seen the kind of wealth he possessed, Meera had been certain that she had finally met a man whom she wanted to marry.
Jai walked in looking harassed and irritated, his stark white shirt creased, sleeves rolled one fourth up, revealing strong, tanned arms, on which he was wearing a collector’s edition of Patek Philip, a small gift from a grateful client, whom Jai had saved from a lifetime of rotting in jail.
He was speaking on the phone, sounding aggravated an annoyed over something and his very persona seemed to intimidate both Saurahb and Pooja, who tried to blend in the background and appear as invisible as possible.
‘I don’t bloody get it! When I say that I want certain things in certain order, why can’t they be done? How long has Shanbagh been working with me? 3 yeas? If she can’t learn even this much till now, I doubt she will survive in the long run! No…Adi…I am not over-reacting…I am just furious…I don’t like rushing here and there at the end of the day, looking out for important papers when they should have been filed and completed by now. This is so damn frustrating!’
Jai kept quiet, apparently listening to the other side of the conversation, while Meera waited eagerly for him to see her and Saurabh and Pooja tried to find a way to sneak out quietly.
‘Well, whatever! They will most probably be in my room…but this is not the way things work in my office. And I DO NOT like the paralegals bossing over my personal staff for mistakes that they have committed. Shanbagh had no business shouting on Sheryl…who in my opinion is hundred times more efficient than Shanbagh can ever hope to be! Okay…now I am disconnecting the phone…I have to look for that bloody document! No…I cannot attend the party tonight, Adi! I had to drive all the way up here from work to search for that document…I am staying put here for the night! Am totally exhausted and fed-up! Bye!’ saying that Jai banged shut his IPhone, muttering something under his lips and shouting out for Abdul.
‘Abdul…here are the keys to my room. Just open it and please fix me a drink. My head is splitting with pain!’ remarked Jai, as he noticed Meera, standing next to him, with a drink in her hand.
‘What luck…here is your drink!’ and saying that, she hugged Jai and remarked, ‘how nice seeing you again, Jai!’
Giving her a bewildered look, Jai spoke in a flabbergasted voice, ‘Who in the blinkers are you?’
Saurabh and Meera who had just found a way to sneak out of the room, heard Jai’s comment and could not help but burst into laughter on seeing Jai’s reaction to Meera and her subsequent expression on being questioned about her identity by Jai.
Going crimson with embarrassment, Meera tried to salvage her pride and spoke with fake cheerfulness, ‘Oh, come on Jai! Meera!’
Still getting a completely blank response from Jai, she flustered and added hastily, ‘Purva’s cousin…Meera Raheja. We met at La Rochelle a couple of weeks back, remember?’
As recognition dawned on Jai, he gave a sort of preoccupied smile and said apologetically, ‘Oh…Oh…I got it! I am sorry…I have just had a terrible day…I simply couldn’t’ place you! Oh…how nice to see you again, Ms. Raheja!’
‘Call me Meera!’ she smiled handing him her drink and rudely signalling Abdul to fix another one for her.
Still looking perplexed and disinterested, Jai muttered, ‘Uh…okay, Meera. Nice to see you….’ Even though he couldn’t imagine what she was doing here.
Then his eyes fell on the young duo of Saurabh and Pooja and looking even more bewildered, he said, ‘Are these two also with you? I don’t remember seeing them at La Rochelle!’
Saurabh and Pooja, highly intimidated by Jai’s stature kept staring mutely, while Meera did not offer an explanation, thrilled to have seen the two of them in a spot and wondering if Jai would give them a sound verbal lashing, mistaking them for strangers.
‘Sahibji…Sirji and Madamji have come this morning…for Chote Sahib’s wedding…from Jigyasa Madamji’s office.’ Explained Abdul, giving a reassured smile at the nervous duo.
‘Oh! Oh! I just remembered. Yes…Yes…Chote had told me that you guys would be coming. Okay…Okay…and Meera, you too! Thanks for the kind offer to help out with the arrangements…I hope you find everything comfortable here.’ Jai remarked in general to everyone, but Meera took it for herself.
‘The house is beautiful, Jai! Who was the architect and designer? I will tell Daddy to use the same guy for our upcoming farmhouse near Hosur!’
Jai looked thoroughly disinterested in Meera’s chit-chat, but realizing that she was Purva’s cousin, maintained a polite expression, even though he felt irritated by the familiarity she was displaying with him.
Feeling a bit sorry for the two mousy looking youngsters, Jai smiled at them and asked kindly, ‘Did you guys find everything okay here? Your rooms ect?’
Overwhelmed by his geniality, despite the fact that he was such a prominent man, Saurabh and Pooja nodded eagerly and said, ‘Everything is great, Sir. Thank you so much.’
‘You can tell Abdul if you need anything….’ Jai spoke, walking up towards his room and looking annoyed with Meera for following him without any reason to do so.
‘Yes Sir. He has been very helpful, thank you for asking.’ Replied Pooja.
Turning to look back at Meera, he remarked in a polite yet stark voice, ‘Meera, if you would excuse me. I have a couple of important documents to check in my room…why you don’t wait here with these two… I will be back in a couple of minutes.’
Saying that, Jai did not give a chance for Meera to react, instead simply climbing the stairs and walked into his room, shutting it decisively from inside. Despite their nervousness, Saurabh and Pooja could barely control their glee on seeing Jai effectively deal with Meera, much to her dismay.
A while later
Jai came down, after having taken a bath and shaved, looking casual yet dashing in a pair of jeans and a white linen half-sleeve shirt. His wet hair tousled into curls at the nape of his neck and he smelled seductively of cologne.
Making some civil, impersonal talk with Saurabh and Pooja and trying his best to be courteous to Meera, who was infuriating the very life out of him.
‘Sir, would you like to have a look at the plans we have made for the functions? Our colleagues charted them up today…Jigyasa Mam has given her approval, but do go through it and let us know what you feel?’ asked Pooja, rather respectfully.
Jai looked indifferent and simply shrugged his head, saying, ‘I trust Jiggy…I mean Jigyasa to handle all this…besides, I am sure you know your job better than I do.’
Saurabh and Pooja smiled, wondering what else to say, feeling rather awkward in Jai’s towering presence, when Meera chimed in, ‘Where is that girl gone?’
‘What girl?’ asked Jai, looking perplexed at the thought of so many strangers milling around in his house.
‘The third one…really annoying!’ snorted Meera, evoking a snarl from both Saurabh and Pooja, who adored Bani.
‘She has taken some time off and gone to visit her sister.’ Remarked Pooja, giving a cold look in Meera’s direction.
‘Just look at this Jai! Height of unprofessionalism!’ barked Meera and giving a scornful glance at both of them, snapped, ‘I saw her going on a bike with that guy who came with us in the morning…visiting her sister indeed. Must have gone on a date! Typical of such girls! Jai, you should seriously put in a word to Jigyasa regarding the attitude of her employees.’
Scandalized at the accusation on Bani’s character, both Saurabh and Pooja charged in her defence and spoke vehemently, ‘that’s not true, Sir. She has not gone on any date…she has indeed gone to visit her sister with her friend. And she wrapped off all the work before leaving…got Jigyasa Mam’s permission too…’
‘Complete Lie, I am sure…sneaking off like this when she should have been working…’ came back Meera, evoking another reaction from the duo, till Jai snapped in a low, cold growl, ‘That is enough now!’
Giving a taciturn look at Saurabh and Pooja, Jai spoke in an authoritative voice, ‘if you want to have your cat fights, have it outside of the premises of my house or at least not when I am around. You have come to work here, so I expect you to only do that and nothing else.’
Meera looked elated at the way Jai had put both of them down, only till he turned to face her and spoke in an artic voice, ‘And Meera…I don’t give a damn about who goes out on dates and who doesn’t! They are Jigyasa’s employees and what they do during or after their work hours does not concern me at all…and it should not bother you too. So please don’t try to fill my ears with pointless gossip in which I have categorically no interest.’
Saying that, he got up, rubbing his head; this was now paining badly and called out for Abdul, who came darting along.
‘Abdul, is there something to eat here?’
Abdul blinked his eyes and mumbled, ‘Muejeli, Sahib?’
‘No…not Muesli!’ grumbled Jai and then shrugging his head in desperation, simply snarled, ‘Forget it. I will check out the kitchen myself.’
Turning to look at both Saurabh and Pooja, who were looking pale with terror on seeing Jai’s infamous display of temper, he spoke in a considerate voice, ‘Do you kids like Chinese Food?’
Saurabh nodded his head and Jai gave a short smile and said, ‘I have asked my driver to get some food packed from The China Club. You will love it! It’s my personal favourite too.’
Pooja smiled bashfully and spoke in a low voice, ‘Thank you, Sir. Won’t you be joining us for dinner?’
‘No…I am not in the mood to have outside food today. You guys enjoy it…you too, Meera. I will fix up something for myself in the kitchen.’ Saying that he walked away, leaving Saurabh and Pooja sniggering at Meera, who looked catalytic with anger at having been put down by Jai.
In the Kitchen
Jai went through some of the boxes and looked disdainfully inside the fridge. It was mostly empty except a carton of yoghurt and he took it out, wondering what to eat it with. His eyes fell on a closed lid pan kept on the burner and he opened it to check what was inside.
‘Kichdi?’ remarked Jai with complete surprise and wondered who had cooked it. Abdul could not even prepare a decent cup of tea for him. It looked cold, so he guessed that it must have been made for lunch. Taking a ladle full of the preparation on a plate, he heated it up in the microwave and when the smell hit his nostrils, a sudden nostalgia swept over him.
The aroma of the lentil and rice preparation was so familiar…pouring some yogurt over the kichdi, he took a spoonful into his mouth and almost instantly exclaimed, ‘Bani?’
Abdul came into the kitchen with the purpose of helping his boss, and Jai asked him in a dumbfounded manner, ‘Who cooked this, Abdul?’
‘That other Madamji, Sahib.’ Answered Abdul in a respectful voice.
‘Which other Madam?’ asked Jai, with a sinking feeling at the pit of his stomach.
‘The one who has come for Chote Sahib’s wedding arrangements, with the Sirji and Madamji who are outside.’
Jai was very still…it could not be true. Was Bani the only person in the world who could make this particular dish? But then he instantly realized how foolish he as being. It was one thing whipping up a certain recipe as common as this one…many people could do that. But it was quite another, to leave your personal imprint on it…that was unique to every cook. Bani’s kichdi had a particular taste that had lingered in on Jai’s memory for the last four years…he could have recognized the flavour of her cooking in his sleep. No one could make Kichdi like she did.
Almost mechanically finishing his dish, Jai went out and saw that Meera, Saurabh and Pooja were digging into the lavish Chinese spread that Jai had ordered for them. In a distracted manner, he spoke to them, ‘I hope you like the food…and Meera, I am sorry for losing my cool…I just had an awful day at work and I have not been keeping very well…listen, why don’t I make up for it? We can go for dinner tomorrow evening, what do you say?’
Meera, who had been in the midst of gulping a shrimp dumpling looked elated and nodded her head with joy, much to Saurabh and Pooja’s disgust, who had stopped eating when Jai had walked in.
Realizing that he was probably making them uncomfortable with his presence, Jai said, ‘I am out in the lawns…I have a couple of calls to make…you guys carry on.’
An hour later
Jai had been pacing up and down in the lawns, sipping his scotch and making official calls, but hardly concentrating, since his eyes were set upon the gate. It was close to 10:30 at night and whoever the third person was, hadn’t come back.
Jigyasa’s ditzy assistant who had inexplicably braved torrential downpour to attend his seminar on criminal law, despite not having any background in it. Pia informing him that Bani was now living in Bangalore and was employed somewhere. Everything seemed to add up for Jai. Though he could hardly get himself to believe it. Here he had taken every precaution to avoid her for the last four years, not even calling her up when he was right there in Bangalore and fate had brought her to his very doorsteps!
What could he do if the universe was conspiring to get them back together?
Just then, he heard the noise of the Iron Gate being pushed open slightly and the sound of a male voice laughing and the tinkling of bangles. He stood quietly where he was and saw a female form walking in towards the house. She was tall with a wholesome sort of figure, her hair was left open and she had a pre-occupied look to her. Though it was pretty dark outside, the lights in the lawns being dimmed out by now, Jai could not fail to recognise who she was.
In a way, though she had changed significantly over the last four years, paradoxically she still seemed exactly the girl-next-door from Mukteshwar to him. Slight unsure in her step, a bit low on confidence, as was evident by the way she had wrapped herself up with her arms, her head bent low over her slender neck.
Standing in the shadows of the dimly lit garden, Jai noticed the hint of a cheekbone on her oval shaped faced, her unctuous hair brushing against her forehead, her eyes which had always captivated him, looking conspicuously beautiful because of the hint of kajal in them.
The previously non-existent figure now displayed in lush curves because of the fitted salwar kameez she had worn. She had most definitely lost weight…loads of it, but not in the way that made her anaemically thin…if she had appeared plump and chubby earlier, she looked perfectly fit and curvy now.
And her hair? Jai could not even remember seeing her ever with her hair open in the one year that he had known her and now her luxurious tresses were framing her face with such flawlessness.
Did she look drop dead gorgeous? Jai couldn’t be sure! But now there was an understated elegance and charm about her…something which took his breath away; because he had always teased Bani relentlessly for her general gaucherie and clumsiness that she was forever displaying back in Mukteshwar.
Many women could manage to look beautiful with the right clothes and the correct make-up, but few could appear so easy in their own skin, the way Bani looked now.
Her oxidized silver bangles jingled alluringly when she pushed her silky locks behind her ears and Jai could hardly come to terms with the fact that he felt enormously seduced by her unassuming loveliness and innocence.
Felt seduced by Bani, of all the women in the world! Something was surely going wrong somewhere!
Of course, he was still madly in love with her…but never had he desired her physically, the way he wanted her right now.
Back in Mukteshwar, he had seen her as the sweet, adorable girl who had lovingly guided him back to life and health, with her child-like exuberance and joie de vivre…brushing aside all his fears of being affected by his Cancer for life…cheering him up daily with her presence…ignoring his temper and vile tongue…being a friend to him without expecting anything in return.
He had fallen in love with Bani, the person…with the goodness of her heart, with the kindness of her nature, with her ever cheerful face and sunny disposition. With the kind of superior individual that she was…something which Jai could never be.
Though he had never told her so, Jai had always been in wonder and even awe of Bani…because she was naturally gifted with all those qualities which Jai could not possess even if he had tried for them.
The gift of being compassionate and kind without being patronizing…of being generous and magnanimous without expecting a single thing in return…of being so serene and patient towards everyone’s faults and failings…of being accepting and caring with such self-abnegation…of being so fundamentally good as a human being, that it was almost incredible to Jai, that such people could actually exist in the world.
It seemed the most natural thing in the world to Jai that he had fallen in love with Bani. Who wouldn’t? How could anyone not love someone so good?
But now…bizarre, forbidding emotions filtered his mind…it was one thing being in love with someone, but not being bodily attracted to them…that kind of love could be controlled in some way or the other. Jai had done that, hadn’t he? Managed to stay away from Bani, despite having her on his mind continuously?
Now he felt other passions and an emotion creeping in to his head…this was getting to be perilous.
Being deeply in love with someone…and desiring them physically could only lead to trouble of the kind, that Jai had diligently avoided for the last four years.
She was so preoccupied with her own thoughts, that she almost walked past him, till he stopped her by putting his arm around her waist, and whispered in an amused, husky tone ‘I should have guessed earlier on. The kichdi was a good enough hint.’
Bani seemed to jump out of her skin at the sudden intrusion to her chain of thoughts and looked up in complete amazement, taken aback by the sudden appearance of someone from apparently nowhere.
She stared back at Jai with astonished pair of eyes and could hardly utter a single word or even make a movement.
‘It’s my very own house…you need not look so dumbfounded by my presence, Miss Dixit!’ smiled Jai, finishing his liquor and throwing the crystal glass carelessly on the lawns, waiting for her to react.
‘Jai…’she muttered, still holding that stunned expression and dropping her cloth bag on the ground, fell on his chest in a heap and sobbed, like there was no tomorrow.
Meera had come back after her extended lunch time which included a whole lot of shopping as evidenced by the number of bags she brought back.
Saurabh and Pooja had finished watching their movie and were sitting in the porch, playing cards and deciding on what to order for food, since Bani wasn’t around and none of them could cook to save their lives.
Ignoring them pointedly, Meera breezed inside the house, calling out for Abdul to deliver the parcels to her room and fix her a drink.
Pooja snickered and remarked, ‘I can bet Abdul will mix something undesirable in the drink and give it to that witch!’
Saurabh laughed and replied back, ‘Just imagine! She came here stating that she wanted to overlook our work and Madam vanished from lunch time! Does she have any idea of what sort of work we do?’
‘I have my doubts, Saurabh! It’s a pity, Bani is not as sharp with her tongue as she is talented with her work, else she could have shown that Meera her right place!’
‘Well, we have dear Abdul for that!’ came back Saurabh, making Pooja splutter with laughter.
They were planning to have another round of Rummy, when they heard the front entrance gates creaking open and Abdul coming out running, with an air of importance.
‘What happened Abdul? Whose Car is that?’ asked Pooja, standing up and looking at the powerful Land Rover driving in through the gates.
‘Bade Sahib!’ blurted out Abdul, in half panic and bewilderment.
Saurabh and Pooja looked flustered and shocked, without any reason to do so and said to him, ‘But you said that Mr. Walia never comes here on weekdays! How come…’
‘I don’t know Madamji. His driver…Kailash just called up to say that he was coming! Okay…I have to rush now.’ And saying that he went running towards the main gate.
Saurabh and Pooja did not know what to do, especially with Bani not around and they just picked up the stack of cards and rushed inside, only to be met by Meera.
‘What happened? Why do you look so white-faced?’ she snapped.
‘Bade Sahib…I mean, Mr. Walia has come! So unexpected!’ blurted out Saurabh, evoking first an expression of shock and then a smug smile from Meera.
‘What is so unexpected? Its his house! Besides, I am sure he knew that I was coming too…so clearly he came to meet me!’ she announced, sweeping past them and looking out eagerly. This was going good…only a few hours earlier, she was regretting having coming to Delhi to help with the wedding, realizing that (a) Jai hardly ever visited the Farmhouse and (b) she had no idea regarding the arrangements required in a wedding nor had any interest in running around for it, especially not for Purva, whom she detested.
She had only jumped at Nachiket’s offer in order to get close with Jai, who had fascinated her in their very first meeting. And after having seen the kind of wealth he possessed, Meera had been certain that she had finally met a man whom she wanted to marry.
Jai walked in looking harassed and irritated, his stark white shirt creased, sleeves rolled one fourth up, revealing strong, tanned arms, on which he was wearing a collector’s edition of Patek Philip, a small gift from a grateful client, whom Jai had saved from a lifetime of rotting in jail.
He was speaking on the phone, sounding aggravated an annoyed over something and his very persona seemed to intimidate both Saurahb and Pooja, who tried to blend in the background and appear as invisible as possible.
‘I don’t bloody get it! When I say that I want certain things in certain order, why can’t they be done? How long has Shanbagh been working with me? 3 yeas? If she can’t learn even this much till now, I doubt she will survive in the long run! No…Adi…I am not over-reacting…I am just furious…I don’t like rushing here and there at the end of the day, looking out for important papers when they should have been filed and completed by now. This is so damn frustrating!’
Jai kept quiet, apparently listening to the other side of the conversation, while Meera waited eagerly for him to see her and Saurabh and Pooja tried to find a way to sneak out quietly.
‘Well, whatever! They will most probably be in my room…but this is not the way things work in my office. And I DO NOT like the paralegals bossing over my personal staff for mistakes that they have committed. Shanbagh had no business shouting on Sheryl…who in my opinion is hundred times more efficient than Shanbagh can ever hope to be! Okay…now I am disconnecting the phone…I have to look for that bloody document! No…I cannot attend the party tonight, Adi! I had to drive all the way up here from work to search for that document…I am staying put here for the night! Am totally exhausted and fed-up! Bye!’ saying that Jai banged shut his IPhone, muttering something under his lips and shouting out for Abdul.
‘Abdul…here are the keys to my room. Just open it and please fix me a drink. My head is splitting with pain!’ remarked Jai, as he noticed Meera, standing next to him, with a drink in her hand.
‘What luck…here is your drink!’ and saying that, she hugged Jai and remarked, ‘how nice seeing you again, Jai!’
Giving her a bewildered look, Jai spoke in a flabbergasted voice, ‘Who in the blinkers are you?’
Saurabh and Meera who had just found a way to sneak out of the room, heard Jai’s comment and could not help but burst into laughter on seeing Jai’s reaction to Meera and her subsequent expression on being questioned about her identity by Jai.
Going crimson with embarrassment, Meera tried to salvage her pride and spoke with fake cheerfulness, ‘Oh, come on Jai! Meera!’
Still getting a completely blank response from Jai, she flustered and added hastily, ‘Purva’s cousin…Meera Raheja. We met at La Rochelle a couple of weeks back, remember?’
As recognition dawned on Jai, he gave a sort of preoccupied smile and said apologetically, ‘Oh…Oh…I got it! I am sorry…I have just had a terrible day…I simply couldn’t’ place you! Oh…how nice to see you again, Ms. Raheja!’
‘Call me Meera!’ she smiled handing him her drink and rudely signalling Abdul to fix another one for her.
Still looking perplexed and disinterested, Jai muttered, ‘Uh…okay, Meera. Nice to see you….’ Even though he couldn’t imagine what she was doing here.
Then his eyes fell on the young duo of Saurabh and Pooja and looking even more bewildered, he said, ‘Are these two also with you? I don’t remember seeing them at La Rochelle!’
Saurabh and Pooja, highly intimidated by Jai’s stature kept staring mutely, while Meera did not offer an explanation, thrilled to have seen the two of them in a spot and wondering if Jai would give them a sound verbal lashing, mistaking them for strangers.
‘Sahibji…Sirji and Madamji have come this morning…for Chote Sahib’s wedding…from Jigyasa Madamji’s office.’ Explained Abdul, giving a reassured smile at the nervous duo.
‘Oh! Oh! I just remembered. Yes…Yes…Chote had told me that you guys would be coming. Okay…Okay…and Meera, you too! Thanks for the kind offer to help out with the arrangements…I hope you find everything comfortable here.’ Jai remarked in general to everyone, but Meera took it for herself.
‘The house is beautiful, Jai! Who was the architect and designer? I will tell Daddy to use the same guy for our upcoming farmhouse near Hosur!’
Jai looked thoroughly disinterested in Meera’s chit-chat, but realizing that she was Purva’s cousin, maintained a polite expression, even though he felt irritated by the familiarity she was displaying with him.
Feeling a bit sorry for the two mousy looking youngsters, Jai smiled at them and asked kindly, ‘Did you guys find everything okay here? Your rooms ect?’
Overwhelmed by his geniality, despite the fact that he was such a prominent man, Saurabh and Pooja nodded eagerly and said, ‘Everything is great, Sir. Thank you so much.’
‘You can tell Abdul if you need anything….’ Jai spoke, walking up towards his room and looking annoyed with Meera for following him without any reason to do so.
‘Yes Sir. He has been very helpful, thank you for asking.’ Replied Pooja.
Turning to look back at Meera, he remarked in a polite yet stark voice, ‘Meera, if you would excuse me. I have a couple of important documents to check in my room…why you don’t wait here with these two… I will be back in a couple of minutes.’
Saying that, Jai did not give a chance for Meera to react, instead simply climbing the stairs and walked into his room, shutting it decisively from inside. Despite their nervousness, Saurabh and Pooja could barely control their glee on seeing Jai effectively deal with Meera, much to her dismay.
A while later
Jai came down, after having taken a bath and shaved, looking casual yet dashing in a pair of jeans and a white linen half-sleeve shirt. His wet hair tousled into curls at the nape of his neck and he smelled seductively of cologne.
Making some civil, impersonal talk with Saurabh and Pooja and trying his best to be courteous to Meera, who was infuriating the very life out of him.
‘Sir, would you like to have a look at the plans we have made for the functions? Our colleagues charted them up today…Jigyasa Mam has given her approval, but do go through it and let us know what you feel?’ asked Pooja, rather respectfully.
Jai looked indifferent and simply shrugged his head, saying, ‘I trust Jiggy…I mean Jigyasa to handle all this…besides, I am sure you know your job better than I do.’
Saurabh and Pooja smiled, wondering what else to say, feeling rather awkward in Jai’s towering presence, when Meera chimed in, ‘Where is that girl gone?’
‘What girl?’ asked Jai, looking perplexed at the thought of so many strangers milling around in his house.
‘The third one…really annoying!’ snorted Meera, evoking a snarl from both Saurabh and Pooja, who adored Bani.
‘She has taken some time off and gone to visit her sister.’ Remarked Pooja, giving a cold look in Meera’s direction.
‘Just look at this Jai! Height of unprofessionalism!’ barked Meera and giving a scornful glance at both of them, snapped, ‘I saw her going on a bike with that guy who came with us in the morning…visiting her sister indeed. Must have gone on a date! Typical of such girls! Jai, you should seriously put in a word to Jigyasa regarding the attitude of her employees.’
Scandalized at the accusation on Bani’s character, both Saurabh and Pooja charged in her defence and spoke vehemently, ‘that’s not true, Sir. She has not gone on any date…she has indeed gone to visit her sister with her friend. And she wrapped off all the work before leaving…got Jigyasa Mam’s permission too…’
‘Complete Lie, I am sure…sneaking off like this when she should have been working…’ came back Meera, evoking another reaction from the duo, till Jai snapped in a low, cold growl, ‘That is enough now!’
Giving a taciturn look at Saurabh and Pooja, Jai spoke in an authoritative voice, ‘if you want to have your cat fights, have it outside of the premises of my house or at least not when I am around. You have come to work here, so I expect you to only do that and nothing else.’
Meera looked elated at the way Jai had put both of them down, only till he turned to face her and spoke in an artic voice, ‘And Meera…I don’t give a damn about who goes out on dates and who doesn’t! They are Jigyasa’s employees and what they do during or after their work hours does not concern me at all…and it should not bother you too. So please don’t try to fill my ears with pointless gossip in which I have categorically no interest.’
Saying that, he got up, rubbing his head; this was now paining badly and called out for Abdul, who came darting along.
‘Abdul, is there something to eat here?’
Abdul blinked his eyes and mumbled, ‘Muejeli, Sahib?’
‘No…not Muesli!’ grumbled Jai and then shrugging his head in desperation, simply snarled, ‘Forget it. I will check out the kitchen myself.’
Turning to look at both Saurabh and Pooja, who were looking pale with terror on seeing Jai’s infamous display of temper, he spoke in a considerate voice, ‘Do you kids like Chinese Food?’
Saurabh nodded his head and Jai gave a short smile and said, ‘I have asked my driver to get some food packed from The China Club. You will love it! It’s my personal favourite too.’
Pooja smiled bashfully and spoke in a low voice, ‘Thank you, Sir. Won’t you be joining us for dinner?’
‘No…I am not in the mood to have outside food today. You guys enjoy it…you too, Meera. I will fix up something for myself in the kitchen.’ Saying that he walked away, leaving Saurabh and Pooja sniggering at Meera, who looked catalytic with anger at having been put down by Jai.
In the Kitchen
Jai went through some of the boxes and looked disdainfully inside the fridge. It was mostly empty except a carton of yoghurt and he took it out, wondering what to eat it with. His eyes fell on a closed lid pan kept on the burner and he opened it to check what was inside.
‘Kichdi?’ remarked Jai with complete surprise and wondered who had cooked it. Abdul could not even prepare a decent cup of tea for him. It looked cold, so he guessed that it must have been made for lunch. Taking a ladle full of the preparation on a plate, he heated it up in the microwave and when the smell hit his nostrils, a sudden nostalgia swept over him.
The aroma of the lentil and rice preparation was so familiar…pouring some yogurt over the kichdi, he took a spoonful into his mouth and almost instantly exclaimed, ‘Bani?’
Abdul came into the kitchen with the purpose of helping his boss, and Jai asked him in a dumbfounded manner, ‘Who cooked this, Abdul?’
‘That other Madamji, Sahib.’ Answered Abdul in a respectful voice.
‘Which other Madam?’ asked Jai, with a sinking feeling at the pit of his stomach.
‘The one who has come for Chote Sahib’s wedding arrangements, with the Sirji and Madamji who are outside.’
Jai was very still…it could not be true. Was Bani the only person in the world who could make this particular dish? But then he instantly realized how foolish he as being. It was one thing whipping up a certain recipe as common as this one…many people could do that. But it was quite another, to leave your personal imprint on it…that was unique to every cook. Bani’s kichdi had a particular taste that had lingered in on Jai’s memory for the last four years…he could have recognized the flavour of her cooking in his sleep. No one could make Kichdi like she did.
Almost mechanically finishing his dish, Jai went out and saw that Meera, Saurabh and Pooja were digging into the lavish Chinese spread that Jai had ordered for them. In a distracted manner, he spoke to them, ‘I hope you like the food…and Meera, I am sorry for losing my cool…I just had an awful day at work and I have not been keeping very well…listen, why don’t I make up for it? We can go for dinner tomorrow evening, what do you say?’
Meera, who had been in the midst of gulping a shrimp dumpling looked elated and nodded her head with joy, much to Saurabh and Pooja’s disgust, who had stopped eating when Jai had walked in.
Realizing that he was probably making them uncomfortable with his presence, Jai said, ‘I am out in the lawns…I have a couple of calls to make…you guys carry on.’
An hour later
Jai had been pacing up and down in the lawns, sipping his scotch and making official calls, but hardly concentrating, since his eyes were set upon the gate. It was close to 10:30 at night and whoever the third person was, hadn’t come back.
Jigyasa’s ditzy assistant who had inexplicably braved torrential downpour to attend his seminar on criminal law, despite not having any background in it. Pia informing him that Bani was now living in Bangalore and was employed somewhere. Everything seemed to add up for Jai. Though he could hardly get himself to believe it. Here he had taken every precaution to avoid her for the last four years, not even calling her up when he was right there in Bangalore and fate had brought her to his very doorsteps!
What could he do if the universe was conspiring to get them back together?
Just then, he heard the noise of the Iron Gate being pushed open slightly and the sound of a male voice laughing and the tinkling of bangles. He stood quietly where he was and saw a female form walking in towards the house. She was tall with a wholesome sort of figure, her hair was left open and she had a pre-occupied look to her. Though it was pretty dark outside, the lights in the lawns being dimmed out by now, Jai could not fail to recognise who she was.
In a way, though she had changed significantly over the last four years, paradoxically she still seemed exactly the girl-next-door from Mukteshwar to him. Slight unsure in her step, a bit low on confidence, as was evident by the way she had wrapped herself up with her arms, her head bent low over her slender neck.
Standing in the shadows of the dimly lit garden, Jai noticed the hint of a cheekbone on her oval shaped faced, her unctuous hair brushing against her forehead, her eyes which had always captivated him, looking conspicuously beautiful because of the hint of kajal in them.
The previously non-existent figure now displayed in lush curves because of the fitted salwar kameez she had worn. She had most definitely lost weight…loads of it, but not in the way that made her anaemically thin…if she had appeared plump and chubby earlier, she looked perfectly fit and curvy now.
And her hair? Jai could not even remember seeing her ever with her hair open in the one year that he had known her and now her luxurious tresses were framing her face with such flawlessness.
Did she look drop dead gorgeous? Jai couldn’t be sure! But now there was an understated elegance and charm about her…something which took his breath away; because he had always teased Bani relentlessly for her general gaucherie and clumsiness that she was forever displaying back in Mukteshwar.
Many women could manage to look beautiful with the right clothes and the correct make-up, but few could appear so easy in their own skin, the way Bani looked now.
Her oxidized silver bangles jingled alluringly when she pushed her silky locks behind her ears and Jai could hardly come to terms with the fact that he felt enormously seduced by her unassuming loveliness and innocence.
Felt seduced by Bani, of all the women in the world! Something was surely going wrong somewhere!
Of course, he was still madly in love with her…but never had he desired her physically, the way he wanted her right now.
Back in Mukteshwar, he had seen her as the sweet, adorable girl who had lovingly guided him back to life and health, with her child-like exuberance and joie de vivre…brushing aside all his fears of being affected by his Cancer for life…cheering him up daily with her presence…ignoring his temper and vile tongue…being a friend to him without expecting anything in return.
He had fallen in love with Bani, the person…with the goodness of her heart, with the kindness of her nature, with her ever cheerful face and sunny disposition. With the kind of superior individual that she was…something which Jai could never be.
Though he had never told her so, Jai had always been in wonder and even awe of Bani…because she was naturally gifted with all those qualities which Jai could not possess even if he had tried for them.
The gift of being compassionate and kind without being patronizing…of being generous and magnanimous without expecting a single thing in return…of being so serene and patient towards everyone’s faults and failings…of being accepting and caring with such self-abnegation…of being so fundamentally good as a human being, that it was almost incredible to Jai, that such people could actually exist in the world.
It seemed the most natural thing in the world to Jai that he had fallen in love with Bani. Who wouldn’t? How could anyone not love someone so good?
But now…bizarre, forbidding emotions filtered his mind…it was one thing being in love with someone, but not being bodily attracted to them…that kind of love could be controlled in some way or the other. Jai had done that, hadn’t he? Managed to stay away from Bani, despite having her on his mind continuously?
Now he felt other passions and an emotion creeping in to his head…this was getting to be perilous.
Being deeply in love with someone…and desiring them physically could only lead to trouble of the kind, that Jai had diligently avoided for the last four years.
She was so preoccupied with her own thoughts, that she almost walked past him, till he stopped her by putting his arm around her waist, and whispered in an amused, husky tone ‘I should have guessed earlier on. The kichdi was a good enough hint.’
Bani seemed to jump out of her skin at the sudden intrusion to her chain of thoughts and looked up in complete amazement, taken aback by the sudden appearance of someone from apparently nowhere.
She stared back at Jai with astonished pair of eyes and could hardly utter a single word or even make a movement.
‘It’s my very own house…you need not look so dumbfounded by my presence, Miss Dixit!’ smiled Jai, finishing his liquor and throwing the crystal glass carelessly on the lawns, waiting for her to react.
‘Jai…’she muttered, still holding that stunned expression and dropping her cloth bag on the ground, fell on his chest in a heap and sobbed, like there was no tomorrow.
The most painful
love there is; is the love left unshown. A love that cannot be expressed,
affection left unknown. The love that withholds touching; afraid of what it
would say - Anonymous
Part 9 (a)
Jai could feel her heart beat, as he encircled her in his arms…and every unspoken word between them…every undeclared emotion…every silent emotion was spelt out with lucidity.
Bani kept weeping, burying her face in his chest…all the agony and pain of the last four years…being separated from the man she loved…Pia running away from home…her father’s death…leaving Mukteshwar…building a new life…all those fears and apprehensions that she had somehow managed to bury came tumbling out like a wild, feral, lashing river, ultimately finding its refuge in the calmness and depth of Ocean.
‘Where were you? Why did you go away like that? Do you know how much I missed you? How much I love…’ Bani could barely string the words together, as she finally lifted her head and looked up at Jai, who was still holding her.
But she could barely finish her sentence, when the sound of Meera’s high-heeled click-clack was heard coming in their direction. Bani had streaked Jai’s shirt with her tears and her innate sense of modesty and decorum instantly made her withdraw from Jai, as she hastily wiped her eyes.
‘Jai! I was wondering how come you are still out there? Isn’t it getting late for sleep?’ asked Meera, displaying a familiarity that was usually reserved for wives or girlfriends.
Jai simply closed his eyes in cold frustration at the unwanted intrusion and looked at Bani, even as Meera noticed her picking up the cloth bag from the ground and barked, ‘there you are…walking in at odd hours like this is your own house! Such utter unprofessionalism! Listen, I am here to supervise you and those two jokers inside…so I need you to let me know of your every minute from tomorrow onwards! We are paying a fortune to Jigyasa for this wedding…and I will make sure her employees don’t misuse our finances.’
Bani did not react to Meera, she had barely heard the accusations coming from her, still shocked by her unexpected meeting with Jai, who was standing rock steady and still.
‘I…I am sorry. I got stuck in the traffic.’ Mumbled Bani and added with a quiet dignity, ‘If you wish to see what work we are doing, you are most welcome, Ms. Raheja. I will update you tomorrow morning of the same.’
Passing one last look at Jai, she spoke softly, ‘Good night, Ms. Raheja’ and with after a pause, added, ‘Good night, Mr. Walia’, and walked inside, closing her eyes, as tears streamed down her face and her body shivering from head to toe with the impact of Jai’s touch.
‘My God! These middle-class type girls! Anyway…forget her! Jai, I was wondering if we could go to Asian Grill tomorrow. I just love the food there! What do you say? And also, can you send me your Car to pick me up? Getting a cab is a hell of a job in Delhi!’ chirped Meera, completely unaware of the fact that Jai had not taken his eyes off Bani’s receding figure and wasn’t paying attention to one word that Meera was saying.
It only dawned on Meera that Jai was lost in his own world, when he walked inside the house, almost in a spell, leaving Meera standing alone on the lawns, as if she was completely invisible to his eyes.
Bani’s Room
Having barely uttered a hasty goodnight to both Saurabh and Pooja, who had been waiting for Bani to come back before retiring to their respective rooms, Bani locked the door and collapsed on the bed, sobbing like a child.
What on earth was wrong with her? Hadn’t she spent the last four years of her life wanting nothing but seeing Jai just once? She should have reacted with joy and happiness on meeting him again. Then why this deluge of emotion? Was it because of the shock of seeing him after such a long time? Or was it because of her own tumultuous past which evoked all these strong reactions? After all, she had always been the one to have lent a shoulder for everyone around her to cry on…and Jai was the only person she knew who could do the same for her.
Bani felt a shiver run through her spine as she remembered his warm touch, encasing her waist and drawing her so close to him, that she could feel his body heat…smell the earthy fragrance of his hair, feel his pulse humming in her ears.
This was wrong…this was all wrong. There must have been a valid reason as to why things happened the way they did, four years back. Jai had rejected her love…he had done it with humanity and kindness, but nevertheless, he had rejected it. She did not know why…or maybe she did. Bani had always hoped that the reason why Jai had laughingly dismissed her feelings was not because he did not find her physically attractive…she knew he was not a superficial man. Maybe it was simply because he just did not feel anything for her besides the feeling of friendship and fondness.
Would anything change now? Everyone kept telling her how pretty and feminine she looked…with her womanly curves, her large expressive eyes, her shy smile and the way she kept pushing her hair away from her face. Bani did not believe it. A lifetime of being put down by one’s own sibling because of the way she looked had firmly convinced her that she was not and never could be good-looking. And she did not care at all for that. The values that her parents had imbibed in her were of a wholly different sort and she was glad that in some way she had learnt and fulfilled them.
Striving to look attractive was not something that had even crossed her mind.
Tossing and turning in the ultra-comfortable bed, Bani tried to sleep with desperation. She had a lot of work to do and simply could not imagine how she would confront Jai tomorrow morning.
Jai’s bedroom
Having locked himself inside his bedroom, Jai sat on the bed with his face buried in his palms. Why was he so stunned by her appearance? Alright, so the world had indeed become very small and he had ended up being confronted by a girl, whom he had taken such pains to avoid for the last four years.
So what?
Did it change anything?
Jai thought it did. A cold sweat broke down in his face and rolled down his neck when he recollected the smoothness of her cheeks as he had stroked them, the citrusy fragrance of her hair when his face touched them…the feel of her body when he had held her.
The frenzy of emotion associated with love and the maddening passion associated with pure physical desire that had engulfed him all at the same time.
Oh! God! All he wanted to do was burst into her room and take her into his arms and never, ever let her go away from him again. Never.
Getting up from the bed and striving to do exactly that, he strode purposefully towards the door. To hell with whatever the consequences are…he had done what he could. Stay away from her consciously. And she had done the same, evidently.
But fate had brought them back together and who was he to challenge his own destiny?
His eyes fell on a brown colour parcel that was kept on the study table, just as he was about to open the door of his room.
‘Dana Farber Institute for Cancer Research and Radium Studies, Boston.’
Dr. Karthik Reddy had mailed him the documents, which Jai had carried with him the last time he had visited the Farmhouse.
Jai’s hands which had been on the handle of the door slowly went back as he picked up the document and giving a cynical smile, murmured to himself, ‘Thank you, Dr. Reddy…for reminding me…and stopping me at the right time.’
Tightening his lips and gripping his fists, Jai walked back to his bed, switching off the lights in the room and stumbling on to the four-poster bed, as his vision got compromised because of the tears that had clouded his eyes.
Next Morning
Bani had finally given up on trying to sleep and at the first hint of light outside, had got up, worn her track pants and tied up her shoelaces, to go running outside. She needed it desperately…if nothing else, she definitely wanted to thank Jai for telling her to run instead of walk. Somehow, for that one hour that she ran, Bani felt all her problems vanishing in thin air, as all she could concentrate on was breathing hard and trying not to stumble on to anything. And it helped, that running had helped her reduce over twenty pounds in the last four years.
Wrapping herself up with her arms, Bani quietly made her way out of the house, darting quick looks at the direction of Jai’s room…he was an early riser, she knew. But maybe that was only in Mukteshwar, when he had been unable to sleep because of his medication. It was only four in the morning and since it was the last week of March, there was still a nip in the air and Bani felt slightly chilly.
It was eerily quiet outside…all she could hear was the slow chirping of birds…it was too early for them also to wake up and start their daily business. Feeling utterly conscious because of Jai’s presence in the house, Bani avoided doing any warm-up exercises and decided to start running directly, hoping to come back inside before he could wake up.
And then realized how silly she was being. It was his house…she was here to work on his brother’s wedding...and he had already seen her yesterday…seen her actually weeping and falling into his arms…was there even a purpose in avoiding him in the first place?
Shaking her head and tying her hair in an untidy bun, she started running, pushing open the small side-gate that was built for the domestics to enter and go and reached outside.
‘Madamji! What are you doing out here at this hour?’ called out the security guard, looking remarkably alert, mainly because he knew that Jai was inside the house.
Bani gave him a smile and said, ‘Good-morning, Bahadurji. I am just going out for a run…’ and then looking at the lack of comprehension on his face, added, ‘Jogging…exercise.’
‘Oh yes, I understood…but at this hour? Madamji…Delhi not safe for women…please don’t go outside the main gates…you can just run here…there is plenty of space.’
Bani smiled at his concern and thanked him, promising that she won’t go wandering outside the gated community of Anand Gram, in which Jai’s farmhouse was located, alongside a dozen others.
Taking a deep breath, Bani glanced at her watch to note the time and started a slow jog towards, trying to focus on her breathing and keeping an eye on the road, since the place was new to her.
An Hour later
It was only 5:30 in the morning, when she came back to the Farmhouse, perspiring and puffing, giving a friendly grin to Bahadur who was now sipping tea with the Gardner and his assistant and went inside. The house was now having some level of hustle-bustle…she could see one of the domestic helps, whose name she could not recollect, sweeping the porch with a long broom and Jai’s driver washing his car near the entrance.
Bani decided to quickly slip back inside her room and stay there for as long as possible. Jai would have to go to his office sometime…she could come down as late as possible…she knew that both Saurabh and Pooja were not exactly early risers. They could have breakfast outside somewhere and just get back to their work after that.
She did not want to ponder on how she would avoid Jai for the next fifteen days and then realized that while she had instantly displayed an outburst of emotion on seeing him, he had been very impassive and quiet…and Bani was hoping that it was only because of Meera’s unexpected intrusion.
Slipping off her running shoes, she picked them up in her hands to avoid dirtying the gorgeous carpets in the main hall and was sneaking in quietly, when she met up with Abdul, humming a song and carrying a tray in his hands.
‘Arre, Madamji? How long have you been up? Gone outside for exercise? Didn’t Bahadur tell you to not go outside the community gates? Not safe, Madamji…Delhi not at all safe for women…why only yesterday my wife was telling me…’
‘Abdul! Chai!’ came Jai’s deep voice, calling out for him, as Bani all but jumped in fright and looked at the direction of the voice. It had come from upstairs, but she could not see him.
‘Oh! Bade Sahib!’ exclaimed Abdul and before leaving, said to Bani, ‘Madamji, I will send tea to your room in just ten minutes. Or will you have coffee? If you want tea, it’s ready…’
Bani smiled a bit and said softly, ‘Abdul Chacha, don’t mind…but have you made the tea?’
Abdul grinned and answered back, ‘Yes, Madamji. Bade Sahib’s cook is not here no…so I had to make it. I know he will hate it…but no option. And Bade Sahib cannot start his day without tea, good or bad.’
On an impulse, Bani remarked, ‘Would you mind, if I make tea for your Bade Sahib? Just ten minutes, it will be ready.’
Abdul looked surprised but giving her a wide, toothy grin, remarked, ‘Of course, Madamji. Come, I will show you where the tea leaves and sugar is kept.’
‘Oh, but he doesn’t take sugar in his tea!’ came back Bani, unthinkingly, evoking a shocked reaction from Abdul.
‘How did you know?’
Going crimson, she mumbled, ‘I…I just assumed…normally these rich, big men don’t like sugar in their beverages…I have seen it on TV.’
Assured by her strange explanation, Abdul nodded his head wisely, telling her that he could not bear to drink tea unless it had at least three teaspoon full of sugar.
‘Chacha, is there some Tulsi leaves and ginger lying around?’ asked Bani, putting the water on boil.
‘I will get it in two minutes from the kitchen garden…our Maali grows them.’
In the meanwhile, Bani quickly slipped out of the kitchen and rushed upstairs to her room and came back to the kitchen, carrying a small steel lunchbox with her, just as Abdul came back humming a song and carrying some fresh ginger and fragrant tulsi leaves.
Abdul kept chatting on various subject, as Bani prepared the tea, pouring it inside the jug and placing it on the tray and opening her steel lunchbox, took out a couple of Naan Khatai biscuits and kept them on a small serving plate.
‘Yeh kya, Madamji?’ asked Abdul, who was admiring the fragrance of the tea that Bani had just made.
‘Some biscuits…Tea should never be had on an empty stomach…my mother used to say.’ Spoke Bani, ushering Abdul to go, as Jai shouted out for him once again, this time with a distinct irritation in his voice.
‘And Chacha…please don’t tell him that I made the tea…he might feel annoyed.’ Muttered Bani uncertainl yjust before Abdul left the kitchen.
Jai’s Room
‘What the hell? Abdul! I don’t expect you to make gourmet tea…but at least get it on time!’ snapped Jai, as Abdul came scampering along, muttering apologies and placing the tray on the wicket table in the balcony where Jai was sitting.
‘Now stop mumbling and pour me the damn thing!’ growled Jai, looking to be in a terrible mood, because of lack of sleep.
‘Ji Sahabji.’
Abdul placed the collection of national and international newspapers for Jai to browse through, as he picked up his cup and started sipping the hot beverage.
Just as Abdul was about to leave, Jai asked him, ‘Who made this tea?’
Abdul gulped and wondered if he should tell the truth or just say that he had made it. But having worked for Jai for more than a decade, he knew the perils of lying to his boss.
‘Er…that Madamji who has come for Chote Sahib’s wedding made it, Sahibji.’ Mumbled Abdul, fearing another round of outburst from Jai.
‘And these Naan-Khatai?’
‘Er…Um…Madamji kept them…her mother says that one should not have tea on an empty stomach.’ Repeated Abdul, not even daring to lift his eyes and look at Jai.
Jai was silent for a couple of seconds and then keeping the cup back on the tray, spoke in a cold voice, ‘Take it back to the kitchen, drain the teapot in the sink and return the biscuits to whoever has given them.’
Without giving time to react to a shocked looking Abdul, Jai added in a low, noxious snarl, ‘And tell her…that I have no need for her charity or help in any which way. I can very well do without tea, if required. And you, Abdul…it is one thing making a guest comfortable in the house, quite another to make them feel like it is their own house…which it is not. So tell her and the others to stay in their limit, else all it would take for me is a call to their boss and have them sent packing from here. Wedding or no wedding.’
Breaking into a sweat, Abdul muttered, ‘Ji Sahibji.’and went out, closing the door of Jai’s room, even as Bani moved back and hid herself behind a recess outside Jai’s room, tears streaming down her face as she felt her heart breaking once again into pieces, like the way it had four years back.
Later
It was close to 9 in the morning, when Bani came down to the living room, hoping that her swollen eyes and puffy cheeks would be attributed to a cold and nothing else.
If she had hoped to not bump into Jai, she was proved wrong once again in a span of a few hours. He was very much present, dressed in a sharp charcoal grey suit, white shirt, black tie and his unruly dark hair combed back slickly, reading a copy of The New York Times and eating his breakfast, which consisted of an unbuttered slice of toast and black coffee.
Meera was sitting right next to him around the dining table, prattling about various things, and looking far too made up for this hour of the day. Saurabh and Pooja were sitting at the other end of the table, looking like two frightened mouse, who had been asked to dine with the Lion King and the Hyena Queen.
‘Good morning.’ Mumbled Bani in an inaudible voice, taking the seat next to Pooja and avoiding looking at Jai, which wasn’t really necessary since he hadn’t even looked up from the newspaper, behaving like he was the only one present for breakfast and the others, were as good as invisible.
‘Hey! How come you are up so late? I always thought you were an early riser!’ commented Saurabh, and realizing too late that he had spoken too loud.
Meera glanced at them and commented scathingly, ‘Madam Dixit, this is not a hotel for you to saunter along any time you please. At least show some respect for your host by coming down on time. Goodness! Where on earth did Jigyasa pick you up from?’
Saurabh and Pooja simmered with cold rage, but were unable to say anything, remembering yesterdays’ dressing down they received from Jai. Bani did not react to the slur and simply answered back in a low voice, ‘I was working on the wedding plans in my room. I am sorry for having coming down late.’
‘Whatever!’ said Meera, tossing her hair and placing her long, manicured fingers on Jai’s arms, cooed, ‘So what time are we leaving for the dinner, Jai?’
‘What dinner?’ came back Jai, sounding downright bewildered.
Saurabh, who was munching on a piece of toast, choked with laughter and had to literally cover his mouth with his hand to avoid sniggering in Jai’s presence.
Flushing with embarrassment, Meera gritted her teeth and said, ‘Dinner. The dinner you had promised to take me to…you know for making up to me…’ she finished in a coquettish voice.
Even though he still looked at sea regarding what Meera was talking about, Jai’s eyes fell on Bani, who was nibbling on a piece of grape, looking lost and tired and answered back, ‘Oh! Yes. I remember now. I am not sure when is my last meeting for the day. I will ask Sheryl to check my calendar…but be ready around eightish…I will send Kailash with my Car to pick you up.’
Looking thrilled out of her life, Meera exclaimed, ‘Oh! Lovely! Where are we going? Asian Grill? Or Sky Lounge? Oh…I love the seafood platter at the Lounge!’
Jai did not answer, instead folding the newspaper, got up from his seat and wiped his face with a napkin, calling out for Abdul.
‘Abdul…tell Kailash to take out the Car…and keep my files in it…and when are the boys expected back?’
‘Sahibji…they are supposed to come today…but how can they stay here?’
‘Why? What is the problem in their staying here?’ asked Jai, sounding immensely irritated and cross.
Freaking out, Abdul blurted, ‘I just…because these people…wedding…Oh! Okay…Sahibji…I will call them up and ask them to bring Baba-log here.’
‘Yes…and make sure, you get their favourite food delivered before they come…they would be upset as it is for having been sent away.’
Saying that Jai simply walked out of the room, without bidding goodbye to anyone and not even bothering to look at Bani, who had literally buried her face in the plate and was trying her best to control her tears.
As soon as Jai went out of sight, Saurabh, Pooja and Meera pronounced at the same time, ‘Boys?’
When Abdul came back after having sent off Jai, wiping his sweat at having rubbed his boss the wrong way since morning, Pooja asked him, ‘Abdul Chacha…what boys was Mr. Walia talking about?’
Now feeling decidedly relaxed, he answered back with a wide grin, ‘Bade Sahabji’s Baba-log!’
‘Huh?’ exclaimed Meera, looking just as stumped as Saurabh and Pooja. Bani was lost in her own world to hear or react to anything else.
‘Baba-log? As in children?’ exclaimed Saurabh, looking completely stumped.
‘Mr. Walia has kids? I thought he was single!’ remarked Pooja.
‘Oh! Lord. Now I will have to think of a way to send them to some hostel or something!’ commented Meera before getting up and leaving the room.
Abdul could not help snickering at everyone’s reaction and the only explanation he gave to Saurabh and Pooja was, ‘Wait till Baba-log come here…you can see for yourself.’
During the day
Despite being severely upset after having heard Jai and Abdul’s interaction in the morning, Bani put all her concentration on her work, feeling guilty for mixing her personal feelings with her work, for which she had come.
She did not even want to think why Jai had dismissed her small gesture of making tea for him in such a harsh manner…when only yesterday night, he had taken her into his arms and consoled her. No…not consoled her. She was the one who had fallen into his arms…she was the one who had the emotional outburst…he had not even reacted to it…not said a single word.
Why?
So alright, that he did not love her…that he had never felt anything for her except a platonic fondness. Yet, he could have met her like an old friend…he could have smiled at her…asked her how she had been in the last four years. Expressed surprise on the way she had changed. Asked her about her family!
But there was nothing. No surprise…no questions…no reactions at all, except today morning.
When he ordered Abdul to throw away the tea she had so lovingly made for him…his favourite kind of tea. With ginger and tulsi leaves. And the biscuits he so loved to eat.
Why had he given her so much respect and love only to take it away in one careless gesture? Why had he made her feel so special only to make her feel so unwanted in just one moment? Why had he raised her self-esteem, only to get it crashing like this?
Constantly rubbing her eyes, to avoid tearing up, Bani put all her focus on the work at hand, wondering what had gone wrong. And why?
Jai’s Office
‘So…you mean, Bani is right there…at your farmhouse? And she is one of the wedding planners for Chote and Purva’s wedding? Oh! My! God! Jai!’ exclaimed Ranveer, looking dumbfounded.
‘Should I call up Jigyasa and tell her to remove her?’ asked Jai, looking contemplative and pensive.
‘Are you crazy? Why?’
Giving a cold look at his best friend, Jai remarked, ‘You know why, Ranveer. Don’t ask stupid questions!’
‘What? Jai! You are a nutcase! Totally! I can’t imagine how you deal with such complicated legal cases when you can’t even handle your own emotions!’
‘I can handle my own emotions, thank you very much.’ Came back Jai in a stony voice, glaring at Ranveer. ‘And that is why I was asking you if it would be correct to call up Jigyasa and ask her to replace Bani with someone else.’
Ranveer simply stared down at his friend and giving an exasperated shrug, answered back, ‘and give what explanation to Jiggy?’
‘She went out for some personal work yesterday evening. I can tell Jiggy that I won’t have such unprofessional people working for Chote’s wedding.’
‘Excellent. So not only will you hurt that poor girl more than you have already done, you will also land her in trouble with her boss, so that she might end up losing her job!’
Before Jai could react, Ranveer retorted with sarcasm, ‘Thank god, I was not born a woman and an object of your affection. If this is the way you treat the woman you are in love with.’
Jai glared icily down at his friend as Ranveer simply shrugged his head in despair and spoke with weariness, ‘Jai…for goodness sake. What on earth is your problem? And don’t give me the reason that you are convinced is the answer. I told you earlier…I am telling you again. You are wrong. And one-sided. And totally unfair. And the worst part is that you are not even realizing it!’
Jai simply sulked and remarked back, ‘I know what I am doing, Ranveer. I am a man…not a child.’
‘And yet, you are planning to jeopardize a hardworking and sincere girls’ career because you cannot bear to face her and risk coming to terms with your own feelings!’
‘Oh! Shut! Up!’
‘Why should I? You shut up!’
‘Its my office. You are the one who should shut up?’
‘So what if it is your office? Does that mean you can say anything and people will put up with it?’
‘Don’t irritate me! Just like you used to do back in school!’
‘I will. That is what friends are for. To irritate and annoy…and to make their friends understand the difference between right and wrong.’
‘RANVEER!’
‘JAI!’
‘Mind your own bloody business.’
‘I will. After you get an appointment with a good psychiatrist.’
‘How dare you?’
‘How dare you?’
They both kept glaring at one another for some time, till the men burst out laughing, like they were little kids again, much to Sheryl’s astonishment, who had come in to remind Jai of his next appointment.
Evening
Bani, Saurab and Pooja had finished drawing up the plans for the wedding venue decorations and had spent the entire day, meeting vendors and contractors.
‘Bani…lets go out for dinner today. Ask your friend Pushkar to join also!’ remarked Pooja, stretching her hands and yawning widely.
‘Yes Bani…lets go out somewhere. We have completed all our work and that witch is also out for dinner…she won’t have the time to complain about us to Mr. Walia.’ Commented Saurabh, making Pooja laugh.
‘Did you look at her expression when Mr. W sounded so clueless about the dinner!’ laughed Saurabh.
‘You bet! Shameless creature! Hitting on him so blatantly! But then…he is so dishy! I could barely concentrate on my breakfast, seeing him eat in front of me…looking so sharp in his suit! Oooh… ‘ sighed Pooja, evoking laughter from Saurabh.
Noticing that Bani was sitting quietly, lost in her own world, Pooja asked her, ‘Mr. W is rather an eccentric man, isn’t it? Blows hot and cold in moments! Gave us quite an earful yesterday for arguing with that witch and then ordered that super-expensive Chinese meal for us!’
‘I know…he was being so genial yesterday evening despite having a headache and this morning, he did not even acknowledge us! Weird!’
‘I think all geniuses are weird in some way. He is supposed to be an authority on criminal law…and he is quite young still…I heard that he has not lost a single case till date…and when he walks into the court, there are very few lawyers who have the guts to take him on!’
‘It helps that he is soooooooooo…..’ groaned Pooja, making Saurabh laugh and tease her for having a crush on Mr. Walia.
‘Hey Bani…come yaar! Let’s go out! Let’s watch a movie! Why do you look so sad? Missing Bangalore?’ asked Pooja, feeling concerned for her colleague.
‘It’s nothing, Pooja. I am just…not feeling very well. I think I will just call it a day…you guys go ahead! Pushkar is already on his way…why don’t the three of you go out and enjoy? I promise, I will come with you later sometime.’
‘Sure? There will be no one here. Witch is going out with Lion King for her dinner’ remarked Saurabh air-quoting and making Pooja giggle.’
‘Saurabh…Pooja…please don’t call her names. She is our client, after all…Purva’s cousin. Mr. Walia’s guest. I don’t want you to be in trouble, if anyone tells her anything.’ Spoke Bani softly.
‘Don’t worry yaar! All the helpers here are already making plans to murder her…we are just calling her a witch…which she is! Did you see how she was insulting you in the morning!’ said Pooja, going red in her face with anger.
‘I didn’t notice…and anyway, we are here to do our work. Let us try and keep to ourselves. Okay…now, aren’t you getting late?’
Just then Meera walked across to them, looking stunning in an emerald green halter neck cocktail dress, showing off her skinny figure to perfection.
Admittedly, she was looking gorgeous and dressed to kill.
‘So where is the loser bunch up to?’she asked, instantly taking the sheen off her beauty with her foul mouth.
Saurabh snarled and about to snap back, when Bani answered in a calm, decorous voice, ‘Meera…we would really appreciate it if you don’t call us names. Atleast not on our faces. We are employed here and we know where we stand, but that does not give you any reason to insult us without any reason. It doesn’t do us any justice and it only ends up making you look shallow and cheap.’
Meera stood with her mouth open, stunned at the way Bani had spoken to her. Impeccably polite, without a trace of temper or sarcasm…yet straight-forward and dignified, causing Meera to remain silent.
‘That’s one for you, Bani!’ whistled Saurabh under his breath, giving thumbs up to Pooja, who looked elated at the way Bani had put Meera in her place.
‘Whatever!’ was all that Meera could stutter before walking away a little further, where she started adjusting her make-up.
Abdul came rushing in frenzy and remarked in general, ‘Baba-log have come…Baba-log have come…and I haven’t even finished preparing their meals! Bade Sahib is going to feed me to them today!’
‘Huh?’ remarked Saurabh, wondering if Mr. Walia’s sons were cannibals!
Bani had gone inside the kitchen to get herself a glass of water, when Jai also walked in, followed by his driver, three aides, followed by a succession of Dogs, much to the combined horror and hilarity of Meera, Saurabh and Pooja, who shrieked with terror, as they saw the seven fierce and enormous dogs charging forward like a bull in a china shop, barking the house down.
‘AIYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE’ came Meera’s loud shriek, followed by which she jumped on top of the couch and practically screamed the house down.
Pooja literally clambered onto Saurabh and hung on for dear life, terrified by the spectacle of Alsatians, Terriers, Fox-hounds and Dobermans, who had charged forth like vicious generals in a battle. Saurabh himself clutched Pooja, shivering from head to toe, as the Dogs went snuffling and sniffing around at the strangers.
‘JAI…SAVE ME…’came Meera’s shrill voice, as one of the Fox Hound’s climbed onto the Sofa and was growling viciously at her.
‘BOYS!’ came Jai’s roaring voice and it was all that took for them to line up like obedient school kids after being ordered about by a particularly strict but loving headmaster.
‘That’s enough now! No need to over-react! These people are guests!’ Jai talked to them like one spoke to small kids.
Saurabh and Pooja looked absolutely terrified and Meera looked highly comical, perched on the couch, dressed in fancy clothes.
‘Sir…they are…they are your Do…’ Abdul didn’t even let Saurabh complete his sentence and hastily said, ‘They are Bade Sahib’s bab-log, Saurabh Sirji. Did you say hello to them?’
Saurabh had no wish to say hello to the terrifying creatures and simply kept himself in a corner with Pooja, who wasn’t ready to leave hold of his shirt.
‘Augustus…come here…let me see your coat? Oh…you look, fine, don’t you? Good boy!’ said Jai, patting a huge brown-black Alsatian, who muzzled his head against Jai’s feet and behaved very much like a small child being petted by his parent.
‘Tiberius…stand straight! What did I just tell you? Manners!’ snapped Jai, evoking a low, respectful growl from the feral looking Doberman.
Claudius…come here…let me check your teeth! Yes…looks fine now! And Abdul, dare you feed him sweets again! I will lock you up in the kennel along with him for the night!’
‘Ji Sahabji!’ came back Abdul automatically.
‘Nero…darling, how you are feeling now? Abdul…tell Shera to take him out for an extra walk from today onwards…the Doc was telling me that he needs to reduce his weight.’
‘Ji Sahabji.’
‘Sirius…I won’t have you picking up fights with any of the other boys, okay? You are on my watch list…so better buck up!’ spoke Jai, giving a pat to a sheepish looking Terrier.
‘Vitellius and Julius…if I catch you sneaking out of the gates without Shera…NO TREATS FOR YOU! GOT IT?’
The grey Fox-hound and the brown Alsatian gave a low, surrendering growl and affectionately muzzled against Jai’s feet, making him say, ‘That’s enough. No need to butter me…won’t help you at all to cut slack!’
Saurabh, Pooja and Meera kept pin-drop silence, looking at the strangest scene they had come across in their lives. Jai seemed to be completely oblivious to their existence, till he saw Meera on top of the couch.
‘What the hell? Meera! Come down! What are you doing up there?’
Meera climbed down the couch rather reluctantly and giving a terrified look at the line-up of Dogs, asked Jai, ‘Please tell me these are not yours…and if they are, they don’t live here.’
Looking nonplussed, Jai answered back, ‘They are very much my boys…and they live here in this house. Why? What happened?’
Meera could only stare at Jai in complete stupefaction and muttered, ‘Why? What happened? Jai! For goodness sake! Seven Dogs? Who keeps Seven Dogs? And such huge ones? And what on earth are their names? Claudius…Virus…whatever…’
‘It’s Vitellius. And they are named after Seven Great Roman Emperors! And of course, they are huge and beautiful and ferocious. They are MY boys! And why can’t one keep Seven of them?’ demanded Jai, adding, ‘I can keep Seventeen if I want.’
Before Meera could react, he added in a cold voice, ‘And don’t you dare call them Dogs again! They are my boys!’
For the first time, Saurabh and Pooja felt in agreement with Meera…this was beyond crazy. 7 Dogs! No…not Dogs, according to Mr. Walia. His ‘Boys’! How on earth were they going to carry on the wedding preparations with these seven enormous creatures hanging around?
Meera had no answer to give to Jai…the man was just Bananas! She simply smoothed her dress and remarked in an attempt to sound cheerful, ‘Okay…whatever. Can we go for our dinner? We are already late. We might not get a place.’
‘I saved the bloody owner from getting hanged. I can get the entire restaurant for myself, if I want.’ Remarked Jai in his regal manner.
Meera was already regretting coming to Delhi and trying to hook up with Jai Walia…he was just too unconventional and eccentric, and in a way, that completely scared the life out of her at times.
‘Okay…whatever. Can we leave? Please! And tell the Dogs…I mean, the boys to stay away from me. That Typhus or whatever he is called pulled a thread off my dress.’
‘It’s Tiberius, not Typhus!’ snapped Jai, asking Meera to give him ten minutes, while he changed and came down, after which they could go for their dinner.
Jai had just reached the top of the stairs, when he saw Bani walking into the room, looking quite indisposed and depressed. He knew the reason and his heart skipped a beat.
Ranveer was right…he was really a devil.
A devil in love. With an Angel.
And everyone knew, that Devils and Angels don’t exactly mix.
Suddenly the seven Dogs charged forth towards Bani, seeing another newcomer and with Jai not around, they could get away with their investigation of the new stranger.
Jai was about to shout on them, terrified that Bani might get scared by the sight of them, but to his acute surprise and to the combined shock of Meera, Saurabh and Pooja, she went on her knees and gave a wide smile to them.
‘Oh…they are so beautiful! Abdul Chacha, do they live here? Oh…what gorgeous creatures!’ exclaimed Bani, petting the wild looking Sirius and giving a pat to the over-sized Nero.
As it always happened with Dogs, they reacted with glee at the sight of a Dog-lover and started wagging their tails, much to Jai’s astonishment.
‘Lovely…aren’t they?’ asked Bani, getting no response from Saurabh and Pooja, who were still stuck in a corner, refusing to move till the Dogs were out of vision.
‘What are their names, Abdul Chacha?’ asked Bani, petting all of them one by one, as they muzzled against her feet.
Abdul, who seemed equally stunned by her complete fearlessness and ease in the midst of the Dogs, which terrified even Nachiket whenever he came down here, said, ‘I can’t pronounce their actual names, Madamji. Bade Sahabji has given them some name of some Kings…I just call them as One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Seven!’
Bani burst out laughing and so did Saurabh, Pooja and even Meera, who not noticing that Jai was looking at the scene from above, commented, ‘Jai is crazy! 7 Dogs? And he calls them his boys! Nuts!’
Bani looked hurt at Meera’s comment for Jai and even more when Saurabh and Pooja sniggered and she simply said, ‘There is nothing wrong with loving animals like one’s own kids…it’s a very natural thing.’
‘But, Bani…how will we work with these things around? From tomorrow, the contractor is going to come to start building the stage…we have the caterer coming for overseeing the kichen arrangements…the Dogs…I mean, the Boys will keep barking and snapping on everyone who comes in here!’ complained Pooja.
‘Yes, Bani…we can’t work with them around. And frankly, I am terrified…just look at their size! Even if one of them were to jump on us, they will maul us to death in minutes.’
‘No, they won’t. Dogs don’t attack unless provoked. And regarding them interrupting our work…I understand that…let me try to put in a word with Mr. Walia and explain our predicament.’
‘Don’t do that now, for goodness sake. We are already late and I don’t want you spoiling his mood by asking him to remove his so-called boys!’
Bani kept quiet, as Abdul ushered the Dogs away to their Kennels outside.
Jai could not help but smile to himself when he saw how beautifully Bani had handled the Dogs…and how much she understood his love for them.
Oh! God! Why on earth was she making it so difficult for him to stay away from her? Why couldn’t she react like Meera to his Dogs? With horror and disdain? That would have put him off for sure. But no…she had to love them. He wasn’t really surprised. There wasn’t anything or anyone whom she could hate. She simply was made like that.
Closing his eyes in mortal agony, he went inside his room to shower and change.
Downstairs
‘Fishes…Dogs…what else?’ asked Meera with a look of repugnance.
‘Burmese Pythons.’ Mentioned Abdul with complete insouciance like he was talking about a pair of harmless, fluffy rabbits.
‘WHAT?’ yelled the three of them, except Bani who did not find anything that Jai did as odd or bizarre. She had seen him in Mukteshwar and knew what he could be capable of. Oddly, even though her entire neighbourhood had found him half-crazy, she always thought of him as the sanest and most normal man she had ever met.
‘Oh! God! Now you are telling me there are Pythons in the house? Is the man crazy?’ shrieked Meera, looking bleached with terror.
Abdul simply grinned and said, ‘Not now, Madamji. He gave them to the Delhi Zoo two years back…when he found out that they had eaten Tipu Sultan and Taimur Langda.’
‘Huh? Tipu Sultan and who?’ asked Pooja, scratching her head.
‘His blue-jay birds…Sultan and Langda. They used to come every day and perch on the Frangipani tree which grows up to Bade Sahib’s bedroom balcony. Bade Sahab was devoted to them. The two naughty boys, the Pythons, I mean, simply devoured them one day and Bade Sahab was absolutely wrathful with them.’
‘Good God!’ murmured Meera, looking at her watch and hoping that Jai would come down soon and take her out to dinner before she could hear any more stories of his abnormality and be put-off by going out with him.
Jai set all of Meera’s doubts to rest, when he walked down looking incredibly dashing in a steel-grey dress shirt and dark trousers. He had washed his hair yet again and had combed them back, revealing a broad forehead set on an intensely masculine looking face. He smelled of musk and after-shave lotion and the glint of his silver Rolex could be seen on his arms.
Pooja simply swooned on seeing him and had to get Saurabh’s support before she stumbled and made a fool out of herself. Meera looked thrilled at the sight of his handsome self and couldn't wait to enter the high-profile restaurant with him and turn every woman there green with envy.
Only Bani looked at him with different eyes...the eyes of a friend and well-wisher, happy to see him regain his health back so splendidly.
‘Shall we?’ he asked with his usual dispassionate voice to Meera, who flashed her eyelids and nodded her head. She was hoping that the dinner would end up in both of them retiring to his room for the night.
Bani did not look at his direction instead and waited for Jai and Meera to leave, so that she could go back to her room. But just then, the intercom rang and Jai picked it up.
‘Yes Bahadur?’
After a pause of about a second or so, he said, ‘Oh!’ and then turning to look at Bani with an impassive face, said, ‘Pushkar Singh for you.’
For some reason, Bani flushed at being addressed directly by Jai but before she could take the intercom and tell Pushkar to wait where he was, while Pooja and Saurabh joined him, Jai spoke on the phone, shocking the life out of Bani.
‘Bahadur, send Mr. Singh in please.’
‘But…’ Bani spoke up in protest, and got silenced when the intense pair of eyes trained themselves on her.
‘I like to be in the know of every person visiting my house, Miss. Dixit.’ His voice came out cool and impersonal, hurting her more and more.
‘But Jai, we are getting late!’ whined Meera.
‘If you are so hungry, then I will ask Abdul to get you a bowl of Museli to appease your appetite.’ He snapped back, making Pooja and Saurabh snicker helplessly.
Meera pouted and kept tapping her heels, waiting for Pushkar to show in, while Jai looked like a a famished Tiger in wait for his prey.
Pushkar walked in about ten minutes later, looking very smart, dressed in a checked shirt and blue jeans, though he looked decidedly nervous, having anticipated a meeting with none other than Jai Walia.
‘Hi Bani! Hi guys! Er…Hello Mam…’ he greeted Bani, Saurabh, Pooja and Meera with an anxious smile and turning to look at Jai staring down at him, spoke in an extremely deferential voice, ‘Good evening, Sir.’
Bani smiled back at him, looking equally uneasy, while Pooja and Saurabh simply waved at him and Meera ignored him emphatically.
‘Good evening.’ Replied Jai, staring at him impassively and asked him to take a seat, making Meera sigh in frustration. This damn dinner date was never going to happen.
‘What do you do?’ he questioned Pushkar with an brusqueness typical to him.
Passing a look with Bani, who was now looking infuriated with Jai for trespassing social boundaries, he replied back respectfully, ‘I am studying Civil law, Sir. Final year. National Law School.’
‘Oh! Is that so? NLS is my Alma Mater too.’ came back Jai in a drawling voice and then shocking the life out of Bani, turned to look at her and spoke sardonically, ‘You do have a thing for lawyers, don’t you, Miss. Dixit?’
Flushing red and feeling mortified by the way he was behaving, Bani still kept her cool and did not react to his unnecessary and unwanted gibe.
‘Pushkar, I won’t be able to come today. Why don’t you take Saurabh and Pooja along with you?’ spoke Bani, hoping to scoot him out ASAP.
‘Oh…I am sorry. Am I interrupting your plans for the evening?’ Jai asked with the same satirical quality to his voice.
Pushkar was about to contravene that Jai was in any way disturbing their plans, when Bani, unable to put up with Jai’s imperiousness and high-handedness anymore, spoke up in a composed but quietly furious voice, ‘as a matter of fact, you are, Mr. Walia.’
Saurabh and Pooja almost did a double take on hearing Bani answer back Jai and so did Pushkar, and even Meera, who could not help but smirk at what she knew was coming from Jai now.
Jai simply stared at Bani for some time and then smiling deliberately said in a slow voice, ‘Then I apologize for the delay caused, Miss. Dixit.’
And all of a sudden getting up, he linked his arms around Meera and said cheerfully, ‘Let’s go Meera…you seem to be withering out of hunger and Miss. Dixit seems mighty displeased that I am delaying her plans…I am obviously not a popular guy today.’
Saying that he laughed heartily, even as the others managed to snigger in a polite manner, though Bani kept standing without any expression.
Jai smiled shortly at Pushkar and said, ‘Nice meeting you, Mr. Singh.’
‘Pushkar, Sir. And please let me tell you, that I am your biggest fan.’ Prattled Pushkar in an awestruck voice.
Jai looked amused but replied back courteously, ‘Is that so? Well, thank you, Pushkar. Hope to see you again very soon.’
Saurabh, Pooja and Pushkar waited respectfully in the side-lines for Jai and Meera to leave before they too left, but Jai asked them casually, ‘Can I drop you somewhere?’
‘Thank you, Sir. But we have a Car today.’ Replied Saurabh in a gratifying tone.
‘Okay then…enjoy your evening.’ And turning to look at Bani, who was watching somewhere else fixatedly, he said in a throaty voice, loaded with meaning, ‘and you too, Miss. Dixit.’
Bani simply gave him an icy look back and walked away without saying a word.
"You know that when I
hate you, it is because I love you to a point of passion that unhinges my
soul." ~ Jeanne Julie Éléonore de LespinassePart 9 (a)
Jai could feel her heart beat, as he encircled her in his arms…and every unspoken word between them…every undeclared emotion…every silent emotion was spelt out with lucidity.
Bani kept weeping, burying her face in his chest…all the agony and pain of the last four years…being separated from the man she loved…Pia running away from home…her father’s death…leaving Mukteshwar…building a new life…all those fears and apprehensions that she had somehow managed to bury came tumbling out like a wild, feral, lashing river, ultimately finding its refuge in the calmness and depth of Ocean.
‘Where were you? Why did you go away like that? Do you know how much I missed you? How much I love…’ Bani could barely string the words together, as she finally lifted her head and looked up at Jai, who was still holding her.
But she could barely finish her sentence, when the sound of Meera’s high-heeled click-clack was heard coming in their direction. Bani had streaked Jai’s shirt with her tears and her innate sense of modesty and decorum instantly made her withdraw from Jai, as she hastily wiped her eyes.
‘Jai! I was wondering how come you are still out there? Isn’t it getting late for sleep?’ asked Meera, displaying a familiarity that was usually reserved for wives or girlfriends.
Jai simply closed his eyes in cold frustration at the unwanted intrusion and looked at Bani, even as Meera noticed her picking up the cloth bag from the ground and barked, ‘there you are…walking in at odd hours like this is your own house! Such utter unprofessionalism! Listen, I am here to supervise you and those two jokers inside…so I need you to let me know of your every minute from tomorrow onwards! We are paying a fortune to Jigyasa for this wedding…and I will make sure her employees don’t misuse our finances.’
Bani did not react to Meera, she had barely heard the accusations coming from her, still shocked by her unexpected meeting with Jai, who was standing rock steady and still.
‘I…I am sorry. I got stuck in the traffic.’ Mumbled Bani and added with a quiet dignity, ‘If you wish to see what work we are doing, you are most welcome, Ms. Raheja. I will update you tomorrow morning of the same.’
Passing one last look at Jai, she spoke softly, ‘Good night, Ms. Raheja’ and with after a pause, added, ‘Good night, Mr. Walia’, and walked inside, closing her eyes, as tears streamed down her face and her body shivering from head to toe with the impact of Jai’s touch.
‘My God! These middle-class type girls! Anyway…forget her! Jai, I was wondering if we could go to Asian Grill tomorrow. I just love the food there! What do you say? And also, can you send me your Car to pick me up? Getting a cab is a hell of a job in Delhi!’ chirped Meera, completely unaware of the fact that Jai had not taken his eyes off Bani’s receding figure and wasn’t paying attention to one word that Meera was saying.
It only dawned on Meera that Jai was lost in his own world, when he walked inside the house, almost in a spell, leaving Meera standing alone on the lawns, as if she was completely invisible to his eyes.
Bani’s Room
Having barely uttered a hasty goodnight to both Saurabh and Pooja, who had been waiting for Bani to come back before retiring to their respective rooms, Bani locked the door and collapsed on the bed, sobbing like a child.
What on earth was wrong with her? Hadn’t she spent the last four years of her life wanting nothing but seeing Jai just once? She should have reacted with joy and happiness on meeting him again. Then why this deluge of emotion? Was it because of the shock of seeing him after such a long time? Or was it because of her own tumultuous past which evoked all these strong reactions? After all, she had always been the one to have lent a shoulder for everyone around her to cry on…and Jai was the only person she knew who could do the same for her.
Bani felt a shiver run through her spine as she remembered his warm touch, encasing her waist and drawing her so close to him, that she could feel his body heat…smell the earthy fragrance of his hair, feel his pulse humming in her ears.
This was wrong…this was all wrong. There must have been a valid reason as to why things happened the way they did, four years back. Jai had rejected her love…he had done it with humanity and kindness, but nevertheless, he had rejected it. She did not know why…or maybe she did. Bani had always hoped that the reason why Jai had laughingly dismissed her feelings was not because he did not find her physically attractive…she knew he was not a superficial man. Maybe it was simply because he just did not feel anything for her besides the feeling of friendship and fondness.
Would anything change now? Everyone kept telling her how pretty and feminine she looked…with her womanly curves, her large expressive eyes, her shy smile and the way she kept pushing her hair away from her face. Bani did not believe it. A lifetime of being put down by one’s own sibling because of the way she looked had firmly convinced her that she was not and never could be good-looking. And she did not care at all for that. The values that her parents had imbibed in her were of a wholly different sort and she was glad that in some way she had learnt and fulfilled them.
Striving to look attractive was not something that had even crossed her mind.
Tossing and turning in the ultra-comfortable bed, Bani tried to sleep with desperation. She had a lot of work to do and simply could not imagine how she would confront Jai tomorrow morning.
Jai’s bedroom
Having locked himself inside his bedroom, Jai sat on the bed with his face buried in his palms. Why was he so stunned by her appearance? Alright, so the world had indeed become very small and he had ended up being confronted by a girl, whom he had taken such pains to avoid for the last four years.
So what?
Did it change anything?
Jai thought it did. A cold sweat broke down in his face and rolled down his neck when he recollected the smoothness of her cheeks as he had stroked them, the citrusy fragrance of her hair when his face touched them…the feel of her body when he had held her.
The frenzy of emotion associated with love and the maddening passion associated with pure physical desire that had engulfed him all at the same time.
Oh! God! All he wanted to do was burst into her room and take her into his arms and never, ever let her go away from him again. Never.
Getting up from the bed and striving to do exactly that, he strode purposefully towards the door. To hell with whatever the consequences are…he had done what he could. Stay away from her consciously. And she had done the same, evidently.
But fate had brought them back together and who was he to challenge his own destiny?
His eyes fell on a brown colour parcel that was kept on the study table, just as he was about to open the door of his room.
‘Dana Farber Institute for Cancer Research and Radium Studies, Boston.’
Dr. Karthik Reddy had mailed him the documents, which Jai had carried with him the last time he had visited the Farmhouse.
Jai’s hands which had been on the handle of the door slowly went back as he picked up the document and giving a cynical smile, murmured to himself, ‘Thank you, Dr. Reddy…for reminding me…and stopping me at the right time.’
Tightening his lips and gripping his fists, Jai walked back to his bed, switching off the lights in the room and stumbling on to the four-poster bed, as his vision got compromised because of the tears that had clouded his eyes.
Next Morning
Bani had finally given up on trying to sleep and at the first hint of light outside, had got up, worn her track pants and tied up her shoelaces, to go running outside. She needed it desperately…if nothing else, she definitely wanted to thank Jai for telling her to run instead of walk. Somehow, for that one hour that she ran, Bani felt all her problems vanishing in thin air, as all she could concentrate on was breathing hard and trying not to stumble on to anything. And it helped, that running had helped her reduce over twenty pounds in the last four years.
Wrapping herself up with her arms, Bani quietly made her way out of the house, darting quick looks at the direction of Jai’s room…he was an early riser, she knew. But maybe that was only in Mukteshwar, when he had been unable to sleep because of his medication. It was only four in the morning and since it was the last week of March, there was still a nip in the air and Bani felt slightly chilly.
It was eerily quiet outside…all she could hear was the slow chirping of birds…it was too early for them also to wake up and start their daily business. Feeling utterly conscious because of Jai’s presence in the house, Bani avoided doing any warm-up exercises and decided to start running directly, hoping to come back inside before he could wake up.
And then realized how silly she was being. It was his house…she was here to work on his brother’s wedding...and he had already seen her yesterday…seen her actually weeping and falling into his arms…was there even a purpose in avoiding him in the first place?
Shaking her head and tying her hair in an untidy bun, she started running, pushing open the small side-gate that was built for the domestics to enter and go and reached outside.
‘Madamji! What are you doing out here at this hour?’ called out the security guard, looking remarkably alert, mainly because he knew that Jai was inside the house.
Bani gave him a smile and said, ‘Good-morning, Bahadurji. I am just going out for a run…’ and then looking at the lack of comprehension on his face, added, ‘Jogging…exercise.’
‘Oh yes, I understood…but at this hour? Madamji…Delhi not safe for women…please don’t go outside the main gates…you can just run here…there is plenty of space.’
Bani smiled at his concern and thanked him, promising that she won’t go wandering outside the gated community of Anand Gram, in which Jai’s farmhouse was located, alongside a dozen others.
Taking a deep breath, Bani glanced at her watch to note the time and started a slow jog towards, trying to focus on her breathing and keeping an eye on the road, since the place was new to her.
An Hour later
It was only 5:30 in the morning, when she came back to the Farmhouse, perspiring and puffing, giving a friendly grin to Bahadur who was now sipping tea with the Gardner and his assistant and went inside. The house was now having some level of hustle-bustle…she could see one of the domestic helps, whose name she could not recollect, sweeping the porch with a long broom and Jai’s driver washing his car near the entrance.
Bani decided to quickly slip back inside her room and stay there for as long as possible. Jai would have to go to his office sometime…she could come down as late as possible…she knew that both Saurabh and Pooja were not exactly early risers. They could have breakfast outside somewhere and just get back to their work after that.
She did not want to ponder on how she would avoid Jai for the next fifteen days and then realized that while she had instantly displayed an outburst of emotion on seeing him, he had been very impassive and quiet…and Bani was hoping that it was only because of Meera’s unexpected intrusion.
Slipping off her running shoes, she picked them up in her hands to avoid dirtying the gorgeous carpets in the main hall and was sneaking in quietly, when she met up with Abdul, humming a song and carrying a tray in his hands.
‘Arre, Madamji? How long have you been up? Gone outside for exercise? Didn’t Bahadur tell you to not go outside the community gates? Not safe, Madamji…Delhi not at all safe for women…why only yesterday my wife was telling me…’
‘Abdul! Chai!’ came Jai’s deep voice, calling out for him, as Bani all but jumped in fright and looked at the direction of the voice. It had come from upstairs, but she could not see him.
‘Oh! Bade Sahib!’ exclaimed Abdul and before leaving, said to Bani, ‘Madamji, I will send tea to your room in just ten minutes. Or will you have coffee? If you want tea, it’s ready…’
Bani smiled a bit and said softly, ‘Abdul Chacha, don’t mind…but have you made the tea?’
Abdul grinned and answered back, ‘Yes, Madamji. Bade Sahib’s cook is not here no…so I had to make it. I know he will hate it…but no option. And Bade Sahib cannot start his day without tea, good or bad.’
On an impulse, Bani remarked, ‘Would you mind, if I make tea for your Bade Sahib? Just ten minutes, it will be ready.’
Abdul looked surprised but giving her a wide, toothy grin, remarked, ‘Of course, Madamji. Come, I will show you where the tea leaves and sugar is kept.’
‘Oh, but he doesn’t take sugar in his tea!’ came back Bani, unthinkingly, evoking a shocked reaction from Abdul.
‘How did you know?’
Going crimson, she mumbled, ‘I…I just assumed…normally these rich, big men don’t like sugar in their beverages…I have seen it on TV.’
Assured by her strange explanation, Abdul nodded his head wisely, telling her that he could not bear to drink tea unless it had at least three teaspoon full of sugar.
‘Chacha, is there some Tulsi leaves and ginger lying around?’ asked Bani, putting the water on boil.
‘I will get it in two minutes from the kitchen garden…our Maali grows them.’
In the meanwhile, Bani quickly slipped out of the kitchen and rushed upstairs to her room and came back to the kitchen, carrying a small steel lunchbox with her, just as Abdul came back humming a song and carrying some fresh ginger and fragrant tulsi leaves.
Abdul kept chatting on various subject, as Bani prepared the tea, pouring it inside the jug and placing it on the tray and opening her steel lunchbox, took out a couple of Naan Khatai biscuits and kept them on a small serving plate.
‘Yeh kya, Madamji?’ asked Abdul, who was admiring the fragrance of the tea that Bani had just made.
‘Some biscuits…Tea should never be had on an empty stomach…my mother used to say.’ Spoke Bani, ushering Abdul to go, as Jai shouted out for him once again, this time with a distinct irritation in his voice.
‘And Chacha…please don’t tell him that I made the tea…he might feel annoyed.’ Muttered Bani uncertainl yjust before Abdul left the kitchen.
Jai’s Room
‘What the hell? Abdul! I don’t expect you to make gourmet tea…but at least get it on time!’ snapped Jai, as Abdul came scampering along, muttering apologies and placing the tray on the wicket table in the balcony where Jai was sitting.
‘Now stop mumbling and pour me the damn thing!’ growled Jai, looking to be in a terrible mood, because of lack of sleep.
‘Ji Sahabji.’
Abdul placed the collection of national and international newspapers for Jai to browse through, as he picked up his cup and started sipping the hot beverage.
Just as Abdul was about to leave, Jai asked him, ‘Who made this tea?’
Abdul gulped and wondered if he should tell the truth or just say that he had made it. But having worked for Jai for more than a decade, he knew the perils of lying to his boss.
‘Er…that Madamji who has come for Chote Sahib’s wedding made it, Sahibji.’ Mumbled Abdul, fearing another round of outburst from Jai.
‘And these Naan-Khatai?’
‘Er…Um…Madamji kept them…her mother says that one should not have tea on an empty stomach.’ Repeated Abdul, not even daring to lift his eyes and look at Jai.
Jai was silent for a couple of seconds and then keeping the cup back on the tray, spoke in a cold voice, ‘Take it back to the kitchen, drain the teapot in the sink and return the biscuits to whoever has given them.’
Without giving time to react to a shocked looking Abdul, Jai added in a low, noxious snarl, ‘And tell her…that I have no need for her charity or help in any which way. I can very well do without tea, if required. And you, Abdul…it is one thing making a guest comfortable in the house, quite another to make them feel like it is their own house…which it is not. So tell her and the others to stay in their limit, else all it would take for me is a call to their boss and have them sent packing from here. Wedding or no wedding.’
Breaking into a sweat, Abdul muttered, ‘Ji Sahibji.’and went out, closing the door of Jai’s room, even as Bani moved back and hid herself behind a recess outside Jai’s room, tears streaming down her face as she felt her heart breaking once again into pieces, like the way it had four years back.
Later
It was close to 9 in the morning, when Bani came down to the living room, hoping that her swollen eyes and puffy cheeks would be attributed to a cold and nothing else.
If she had hoped to not bump into Jai, she was proved wrong once again in a span of a few hours. He was very much present, dressed in a sharp charcoal grey suit, white shirt, black tie and his unruly dark hair combed back slickly, reading a copy of The New York Times and eating his breakfast, which consisted of an unbuttered slice of toast and black coffee.
Meera was sitting right next to him around the dining table, prattling about various things, and looking far too made up for this hour of the day. Saurabh and Pooja were sitting at the other end of the table, looking like two frightened mouse, who had been asked to dine with the Lion King and the Hyena Queen.
‘Good morning.’ Mumbled Bani in an inaudible voice, taking the seat next to Pooja and avoiding looking at Jai, which wasn’t really necessary since he hadn’t even looked up from the newspaper, behaving like he was the only one present for breakfast and the others, were as good as invisible.
‘Hey! How come you are up so late? I always thought you were an early riser!’ commented Saurabh, and realizing too late that he had spoken too loud.
Meera glanced at them and commented scathingly, ‘Madam Dixit, this is not a hotel for you to saunter along any time you please. At least show some respect for your host by coming down on time. Goodness! Where on earth did Jigyasa pick you up from?’
Saurabh and Pooja simmered with cold rage, but were unable to say anything, remembering yesterdays’ dressing down they received from Jai. Bani did not react to the slur and simply answered back in a low voice, ‘I was working on the wedding plans in my room. I am sorry for having coming down late.’
‘Whatever!’ said Meera, tossing her hair and placing her long, manicured fingers on Jai’s arms, cooed, ‘So what time are we leaving for the dinner, Jai?’
‘What dinner?’ came back Jai, sounding downright bewildered.
Saurabh, who was munching on a piece of toast, choked with laughter and had to literally cover his mouth with his hand to avoid sniggering in Jai’s presence.
Flushing with embarrassment, Meera gritted her teeth and said, ‘Dinner. The dinner you had promised to take me to…you know for making up to me…’ she finished in a coquettish voice.
Even though he still looked at sea regarding what Meera was talking about, Jai’s eyes fell on Bani, who was nibbling on a piece of grape, looking lost and tired and answered back, ‘Oh! Yes. I remember now. I am not sure when is my last meeting for the day. I will ask Sheryl to check my calendar…but be ready around eightish…I will send Kailash with my Car to pick you up.’
Looking thrilled out of her life, Meera exclaimed, ‘Oh! Lovely! Where are we going? Asian Grill? Or Sky Lounge? Oh…I love the seafood platter at the Lounge!’
Jai did not answer, instead folding the newspaper, got up from his seat and wiped his face with a napkin, calling out for Abdul.
‘Abdul…tell Kailash to take out the Car…and keep my files in it…and when are the boys expected back?’
‘Sahibji…they are supposed to come today…but how can they stay here?’
‘Why? What is the problem in their staying here?’ asked Jai, sounding immensely irritated and cross.
Freaking out, Abdul blurted, ‘I just…because these people…wedding…Oh! Okay…Sahibji…I will call them up and ask them to bring Baba-log here.’
‘Yes…and make sure, you get their favourite food delivered before they come…they would be upset as it is for having been sent away.’
Saying that Jai simply walked out of the room, without bidding goodbye to anyone and not even bothering to look at Bani, who had literally buried her face in the plate and was trying her best to control her tears.
As soon as Jai went out of sight, Saurabh, Pooja and Meera pronounced at the same time, ‘Boys?’
When Abdul came back after having sent off Jai, wiping his sweat at having rubbed his boss the wrong way since morning, Pooja asked him, ‘Abdul Chacha…what boys was Mr. Walia talking about?’
Now feeling decidedly relaxed, he answered back with a wide grin, ‘Bade Sahabji’s Baba-log!’
‘Huh?’ exclaimed Meera, looking just as stumped as Saurabh and Pooja. Bani was lost in her own world to hear or react to anything else.
‘Baba-log? As in children?’ exclaimed Saurabh, looking completely stumped.
‘Mr. Walia has kids? I thought he was single!’ remarked Pooja.
‘Oh! Lord. Now I will have to think of a way to send them to some hostel or something!’ commented Meera before getting up and leaving the room.
Abdul could not help snickering at everyone’s reaction and the only explanation he gave to Saurabh and Pooja was, ‘Wait till Baba-log come here…you can see for yourself.’
During the day
Despite being severely upset after having heard Jai and Abdul’s interaction in the morning, Bani put all her concentration on her work, feeling guilty for mixing her personal feelings with her work, for which she had come.
She did not even want to think why Jai had dismissed her small gesture of making tea for him in such a harsh manner…when only yesterday night, he had taken her into his arms and consoled her. No…not consoled her. She was the one who had fallen into his arms…she was the one who had the emotional outburst…he had not even reacted to it…not said a single word.
Why?
So alright, that he did not love her…that he had never felt anything for her except a platonic fondness. Yet, he could have met her like an old friend…he could have smiled at her…asked her how she had been in the last four years. Expressed surprise on the way she had changed. Asked her about her family!
But there was nothing. No surprise…no questions…no reactions at all, except today morning.
When he ordered Abdul to throw away the tea she had so lovingly made for him…his favourite kind of tea. With ginger and tulsi leaves. And the biscuits he so loved to eat.
Why had he given her so much respect and love only to take it away in one careless gesture? Why had he made her feel so special only to make her feel so unwanted in just one moment? Why had he raised her self-esteem, only to get it crashing like this?
Constantly rubbing her eyes, to avoid tearing up, Bani put all her focus on the work at hand, wondering what had gone wrong. And why?
Jai’s Office
‘So…you mean, Bani is right there…at your farmhouse? And she is one of the wedding planners for Chote and Purva’s wedding? Oh! My! God! Jai!’ exclaimed Ranveer, looking dumbfounded.
‘Should I call up Jigyasa and tell her to remove her?’ asked Jai, looking contemplative and pensive.
‘Are you crazy? Why?’
Giving a cold look at his best friend, Jai remarked, ‘You know why, Ranveer. Don’t ask stupid questions!’
‘What? Jai! You are a nutcase! Totally! I can’t imagine how you deal with such complicated legal cases when you can’t even handle your own emotions!’
‘I can handle my own emotions, thank you very much.’ Came back Jai in a stony voice, glaring at Ranveer. ‘And that is why I was asking you if it would be correct to call up Jigyasa and ask her to replace Bani with someone else.’
Ranveer simply stared down at his friend and giving an exasperated shrug, answered back, ‘and give what explanation to Jiggy?’
‘She went out for some personal work yesterday evening. I can tell Jiggy that I won’t have such unprofessional people working for Chote’s wedding.’
‘Excellent. So not only will you hurt that poor girl more than you have already done, you will also land her in trouble with her boss, so that she might end up losing her job!’
Before Jai could react, Ranveer retorted with sarcasm, ‘Thank god, I was not born a woman and an object of your affection. If this is the way you treat the woman you are in love with.’
Jai glared icily down at his friend as Ranveer simply shrugged his head in despair and spoke with weariness, ‘Jai…for goodness sake. What on earth is your problem? And don’t give me the reason that you are convinced is the answer. I told you earlier…I am telling you again. You are wrong. And one-sided. And totally unfair. And the worst part is that you are not even realizing it!’
Jai simply sulked and remarked back, ‘I know what I am doing, Ranveer. I am a man…not a child.’
‘And yet, you are planning to jeopardize a hardworking and sincere girls’ career because you cannot bear to face her and risk coming to terms with your own feelings!’
‘Oh! Shut! Up!’
‘Why should I? You shut up!’
‘Its my office. You are the one who should shut up?’
‘So what if it is your office? Does that mean you can say anything and people will put up with it?’
‘Don’t irritate me! Just like you used to do back in school!’
‘I will. That is what friends are for. To irritate and annoy…and to make their friends understand the difference between right and wrong.’
‘RANVEER!’
‘JAI!’
‘Mind your own bloody business.’
‘I will. After you get an appointment with a good psychiatrist.’
‘How dare you?’
‘How dare you?’
They both kept glaring at one another for some time, till the men burst out laughing, like they were little kids again, much to Sheryl’s astonishment, who had come in to remind Jai of his next appointment.
Evening
Bani, Saurab and Pooja had finished drawing up the plans for the wedding venue decorations and had spent the entire day, meeting vendors and contractors.
‘Bani…lets go out for dinner today. Ask your friend Pushkar to join also!’ remarked Pooja, stretching her hands and yawning widely.
‘Yes Bani…lets go out somewhere. We have completed all our work and that witch is also out for dinner…she won’t have the time to complain about us to Mr. Walia.’ Commented Saurabh, making Pooja laugh.
‘Did you look at her expression when Mr. W sounded so clueless about the dinner!’ laughed Saurabh.
‘You bet! Shameless creature! Hitting on him so blatantly! But then…he is so dishy! I could barely concentrate on my breakfast, seeing him eat in front of me…looking so sharp in his suit! Oooh… ‘ sighed Pooja, evoking laughter from Saurabh.
Noticing that Bani was sitting quietly, lost in her own world, Pooja asked her, ‘Mr. W is rather an eccentric man, isn’t it? Blows hot and cold in moments! Gave us quite an earful yesterday for arguing with that witch and then ordered that super-expensive Chinese meal for us!’
‘I know…he was being so genial yesterday evening despite having a headache and this morning, he did not even acknowledge us! Weird!’
‘I think all geniuses are weird in some way. He is supposed to be an authority on criminal law…and he is quite young still…I heard that he has not lost a single case till date…and when he walks into the court, there are very few lawyers who have the guts to take him on!’
‘It helps that he is soooooooooo…..’ groaned Pooja, making Saurabh laugh and tease her for having a crush on Mr. Walia.
‘Hey Bani…come yaar! Let’s go out! Let’s watch a movie! Why do you look so sad? Missing Bangalore?’ asked Pooja, feeling concerned for her colleague.
‘It’s nothing, Pooja. I am just…not feeling very well. I think I will just call it a day…you guys go ahead! Pushkar is already on his way…why don’t the three of you go out and enjoy? I promise, I will come with you later sometime.’
‘Sure? There will be no one here. Witch is going out with Lion King for her dinner’ remarked Saurabh air-quoting and making Pooja giggle.’
‘Saurabh…Pooja…please don’t call her names. She is our client, after all…Purva’s cousin. Mr. Walia’s guest. I don’t want you to be in trouble, if anyone tells her anything.’ Spoke Bani softly.
‘Don’t worry yaar! All the helpers here are already making plans to murder her…we are just calling her a witch…which she is! Did you see how she was insulting you in the morning!’ said Pooja, going red in her face with anger.
‘I didn’t notice…and anyway, we are here to do our work. Let us try and keep to ourselves. Okay…now, aren’t you getting late?’
Just then Meera walked across to them, looking stunning in an emerald green halter neck cocktail dress, showing off her skinny figure to perfection.
Admittedly, she was looking gorgeous and dressed to kill.
‘So where is the loser bunch up to?’she asked, instantly taking the sheen off her beauty with her foul mouth.
Saurabh snarled and about to snap back, when Bani answered in a calm, decorous voice, ‘Meera…we would really appreciate it if you don’t call us names. Atleast not on our faces. We are employed here and we know where we stand, but that does not give you any reason to insult us without any reason. It doesn’t do us any justice and it only ends up making you look shallow and cheap.’
Meera stood with her mouth open, stunned at the way Bani had spoken to her. Impeccably polite, without a trace of temper or sarcasm…yet straight-forward and dignified, causing Meera to remain silent.
‘That’s one for you, Bani!’ whistled Saurabh under his breath, giving thumbs up to Pooja, who looked elated at the way Bani had put Meera in her place.
‘Whatever!’ was all that Meera could stutter before walking away a little further, where she started adjusting her make-up.
Abdul came rushing in frenzy and remarked in general, ‘Baba-log have come…Baba-log have come…and I haven’t even finished preparing their meals! Bade Sahib is going to feed me to them today!’
‘Huh?’ remarked Saurabh, wondering if Mr. Walia’s sons were cannibals!
Bani had gone inside the kitchen to get herself a glass of water, when Jai also walked in, followed by his driver, three aides, followed by a succession of Dogs, much to the combined horror and hilarity of Meera, Saurabh and Pooja, who shrieked with terror, as they saw the seven fierce and enormous dogs charging forward like a bull in a china shop, barking the house down.
‘AIYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE’ came Meera’s loud shriek, followed by which she jumped on top of the couch and practically screamed the house down.
Pooja literally clambered onto Saurabh and hung on for dear life, terrified by the spectacle of Alsatians, Terriers, Fox-hounds and Dobermans, who had charged forth like vicious generals in a battle. Saurabh himself clutched Pooja, shivering from head to toe, as the Dogs went snuffling and sniffing around at the strangers.
‘JAI…SAVE ME…’came Meera’s shrill voice, as one of the Fox Hound’s climbed onto the Sofa and was growling viciously at her.
‘BOYS!’ came Jai’s roaring voice and it was all that took for them to line up like obedient school kids after being ordered about by a particularly strict but loving headmaster.
‘That’s enough now! No need to over-react! These people are guests!’ Jai talked to them like one spoke to small kids.
Saurabh and Pooja looked absolutely terrified and Meera looked highly comical, perched on the couch, dressed in fancy clothes.
‘Sir…they are…they are your Do…’ Abdul didn’t even let Saurabh complete his sentence and hastily said, ‘They are Bade Sahib’s bab-log, Saurabh Sirji. Did you say hello to them?’
Saurabh had no wish to say hello to the terrifying creatures and simply kept himself in a corner with Pooja, who wasn’t ready to leave hold of his shirt.
‘Augustus…come here…let me see your coat? Oh…you look, fine, don’t you? Good boy!’ said Jai, patting a huge brown-black Alsatian, who muzzled his head against Jai’s feet and behaved very much like a small child being petted by his parent.
‘Tiberius…stand straight! What did I just tell you? Manners!’ snapped Jai, evoking a low, respectful growl from the feral looking Doberman.
Claudius…come here…let me check your teeth! Yes…looks fine now! And Abdul, dare you feed him sweets again! I will lock you up in the kennel along with him for the night!’
‘Ji Sahabji!’ came back Abdul automatically.
‘Nero…darling, how you are feeling now? Abdul…tell Shera to take him out for an extra walk from today onwards…the Doc was telling me that he needs to reduce his weight.’
‘Ji Sahabji.’
‘Sirius…I won’t have you picking up fights with any of the other boys, okay? You are on my watch list…so better buck up!’ spoke Jai, giving a pat to a sheepish looking Terrier.
‘Vitellius and Julius…if I catch you sneaking out of the gates without Shera…NO TREATS FOR YOU! GOT IT?’
The grey Fox-hound and the brown Alsatian gave a low, surrendering growl and affectionately muzzled against Jai’s feet, making him say, ‘That’s enough. No need to butter me…won’t help you at all to cut slack!’
Saurabh, Pooja and Meera kept pin-drop silence, looking at the strangest scene they had come across in their lives. Jai seemed to be completely oblivious to their existence, till he saw Meera on top of the couch.
‘What the hell? Meera! Come down! What are you doing up there?’
Meera climbed down the couch rather reluctantly and giving a terrified look at the line-up of Dogs, asked Jai, ‘Please tell me these are not yours…and if they are, they don’t live here.’
Looking nonplussed, Jai answered back, ‘They are very much my boys…and they live here in this house. Why? What happened?’
Meera could only stare at Jai in complete stupefaction and muttered, ‘Why? What happened? Jai! For goodness sake! Seven Dogs? Who keeps Seven Dogs? And such huge ones? And what on earth are their names? Claudius…Virus…whatever…’
‘It’s Vitellius. And they are named after Seven Great Roman Emperors! And of course, they are huge and beautiful and ferocious. They are MY boys! And why can’t one keep Seven of them?’ demanded Jai, adding, ‘I can keep Seventeen if I want.’
Before Meera could react, he added in a cold voice, ‘And don’t you dare call them Dogs again! They are my boys!’
For the first time, Saurabh and Pooja felt in agreement with Meera…this was beyond crazy. 7 Dogs! No…not Dogs, according to Mr. Walia. His ‘Boys’! How on earth were they going to carry on the wedding preparations with these seven enormous creatures hanging around?
Meera had no answer to give to Jai…the man was just Bananas! She simply smoothed her dress and remarked in an attempt to sound cheerful, ‘Okay…whatever. Can we go for our dinner? We are already late. We might not get a place.’
‘I saved the bloody owner from getting hanged. I can get the entire restaurant for myself, if I want.’ Remarked Jai in his regal manner.
Meera was already regretting coming to Delhi and trying to hook up with Jai Walia…he was just too unconventional and eccentric, and in a way, that completely scared the life out of her at times.
‘Okay…whatever. Can we leave? Please! And tell the Dogs…I mean, the boys to stay away from me. That Typhus or whatever he is called pulled a thread off my dress.’
‘It’s Tiberius, not Typhus!’ snapped Jai, asking Meera to give him ten minutes, while he changed and came down, after which they could go for their dinner.
Jai had just reached the top of the stairs, when he saw Bani walking into the room, looking quite indisposed and depressed. He knew the reason and his heart skipped a beat.
Ranveer was right…he was really a devil.
A devil in love. With an Angel.
And everyone knew, that Devils and Angels don’t exactly mix.
Suddenly the seven Dogs charged forth towards Bani, seeing another newcomer and with Jai not around, they could get away with their investigation of the new stranger.
Jai was about to shout on them, terrified that Bani might get scared by the sight of them, but to his acute surprise and to the combined shock of Meera, Saurabh and Pooja, she went on her knees and gave a wide smile to them.
‘Oh…they are so beautiful! Abdul Chacha, do they live here? Oh…what gorgeous creatures!’ exclaimed Bani, petting the wild looking Sirius and giving a pat to the over-sized Nero.
As it always happened with Dogs, they reacted with glee at the sight of a Dog-lover and started wagging their tails, much to Jai’s astonishment.
‘Lovely…aren’t they?’ asked Bani, getting no response from Saurabh and Pooja, who were still stuck in a corner, refusing to move till the Dogs were out of vision.
‘What are their names, Abdul Chacha?’ asked Bani, petting all of them one by one, as they muzzled against her feet.
Abdul, who seemed equally stunned by her complete fearlessness and ease in the midst of the Dogs, which terrified even Nachiket whenever he came down here, said, ‘I can’t pronounce their actual names, Madamji. Bade Sahabji has given them some name of some Kings…I just call them as One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Seven!’
Bani burst out laughing and so did Saurabh, Pooja and even Meera, who not noticing that Jai was looking at the scene from above, commented, ‘Jai is crazy! 7 Dogs? And he calls them his boys! Nuts!’
Bani looked hurt at Meera’s comment for Jai and even more when Saurabh and Pooja sniggered and she simply said, ‘There is nothing wrong with loving animals like one’s own kids…it’s a very natural thing.’
‘But, Bani…how will we work with these things around? From tomorrow, the contractor is going to come to start building the stage…we have the caterer coming for overseeing the kichen arrangements…the Dogs…I mean, the Boys will keep barking and snapping on everyone who comes in here!’ complained Pooja.
‘Yes, Bani…we can’t work with them around. And frankly, I am terrified…just look at their size! Even if one of them were to jump on us, they will maul us to death in minutes.’
‘No, they won’t. Dogs don’t attack unless provoked. And regarding them interrupting our work…I understand that…let me try to put in a word with Mr. Walia and explain our predicament.’
‘Don’t do that now, for goodness sake. We are already late and I don’t want you spoiling his mood by asking him to remove his so-called boys!’
Bani kept quiet, as Abdul ushered the Dogs away to their Kennels outside.
Jai could not help but smile to himself when he saw how beautifully Bani had handled the Dogs…and how much she understood his love for them.
Oh! God! Why on earth was she making it so difficult for him to stay away from her? Why couldn’t she react like Meera to his Dogs? With horror and disdain? That would have put him off for sure. But no…she had to love them. He wasn’t really surprised. There wasn’t anything or anyone whom she could hate. She simply was made like that.
Closing his eyes in mortal agony, he went inside his room to shower and change.
Downstairs
‘Fishes…Dogs…what else?’ asked Meera with a look of repugnance.
‘Burmese Pythons.’ Mentioned Abdul with complete insouciance like he was talking about a pair of harmless, fluffy rabbits.
‘WHAT?’ yelled the three of them, except Bani who did not find anything that Jai did as odd or bizarre. She had seen him in Mukteshwar and knew what he could be capable of. Oddly, even though her entire neighbourhood had found him half-crazy, she always thought of him as the sanest and most normal man she had ever met.
‘Oh! God! Now you are telling me there are Pythons in the house? Is the man crazy?’ shrieked Meera, looking bleached with terror.
Abdul simply grinned and said, ‘Not now, Madamji. He gave them to the Delhi Zoo two years back…when he found out that they had eaten Tipu Sultan and Taimur Langda.’
‘Huh? Tipu Sultan and who?’ asked Pooja, scratching her head.
‘His blue-jay birds…Sultan and Langda. They used to come every day and perch on the Frangipani tree which grows up to Bade Sahib’s bedroom balcony. Bade Sahab was devoted to them. The two naughty boys, the Pythons, I mean, simply devoured them one day and Bade Sahab was absolutely wrathful with them.’
‘Good God!’ murmured Meera, looking at her watch and hoping that Jai would come down soon and take her out to dinner before she could hear any more stories of his abnormality and be put-off by going out with him.
Jai set all of Meera’s doubts to rest, when he walked down looking incredibly dashing in a steel-grey dress shirt and dark trousers. He had washed his hair yet again and had combed them back, revealing a broad forehead set on an intensely masculine looking face. He smelled of musk and after-shave lotion and the glint of his silver Rolex could be seen on his arms.
Pooja simply swooned on seeing him and had to get Saurabh’s support before she stumbled and made a fool out of herself. Meera looked thrilled at the sight of his handsome self and couldn't wait to enter the high-profile restaurant with him and turn every woman there green with envy.
Only Bani looked at him with different eyes...the eyes of a friend and well-wisher, happy to see him regain his health back so splendidly.
‘Shall we?’ he asked with his usual dispassionate voice to Meera, who flashed her eyelids and nodded her head. She was hoping that the dinner would end up in both of them retiring to his room for the night.
Bani did not look at his direction instead and waited for Jai and Meera to leave, so that she could go back to her room. But just then, the intercom rang and Jai picked it up.
‘Yes Bahadur?’
After a pause of about a second or so, he said, ‘Oh!’ and then turning to look at Bani with an impassive face, said, ‘Pushkar Singh for you.’
For some reason, Bani flushed at being addressed directly by Jai but before she could take the intercom and tell Pushkar to wait where he was, while Pooja and Saurabh joined him, Jai spoke on the phone, shocking the life out of Bani.
‘Bahadur, send Mr. Singh in please.’
‘But…’ Bani spoke up in protest, and got silenced when the intense pair of eyes trained themselves on her.
‘I like to be in the know of every person visiting my house, Miss. Dixit.’ His voice came out cool and impersonal, hurting her more and more.
‘But Jai, we are getting late!’ whined Meera.
‘If you are so hungry, then I will ask Abdul to get you a bowl of Museli to appease your appetite.’ He snapped back, making Pooja and Saurabh snicker helplessly.
Meera pouted and kept tapping her heels, waiting for Pushkar to show in, while Jai looked like a a famished Tiger in wait for his prey.
Pushkar walked in about ten minutes later, looking very smart, dressed in a checked shirt and blue jeans, though he looked decidedly nervous, having anticipated a meeting with none other than Jai Walia.
‘Hi Bani! Hi guys! Er…Hello Mam…’ he greeted Bani, Saurabh, Pooja and Meera with an anxious smile and turning to look at Jai staring down at him, spoke in an extremely deferential voice, ‘Good evening, Sir.’
Bani smiled back at him, looking equally uneasy, while Pooja and Saurabh simply waved at him and Meera ignored him emphatically.
‘Good evening.’ Replied Jai, staring at him impassively and asked him to take a seat, making Meera sigh in frustration. This damn dinner date was never going to happen.
‘What do you do?’ he questioned Pushkar with an brusqueness typical to him.
Passing a look with Bani, who was now looking infuriated with Jai for trespassing social boundaries, he replied back respectfully, ‘I am studying Civil law, Sir. Final year. National Law School.’
‘Oh! Is that so? NLS is my Alma Mater too.’ came back Jai in a drawling voice and then shocking the life out of Bani, turned to look at her and spoke sardonically, ‘You do have a thing for lawyers, don’t you, Miss. Dixit?’
Flushing red and feeling mortified by the way he was behaving, Bani still kept her cool and did not react to his unnecessary and unwanted gibe.
‘Pushkar, I won’t be able to come today. Why don’t you take Saurabh and Pooja along with you?’ spoke Bani, hoping to scoot him out ASAP.
‘Oh…I am sorry. Am I interrupting your plans for the evening?’ Jai asked with the same satirical quality to his voice.
Pushkar was about to contravene that Jai was in any way disturbing their plans, when Bani, unable to put up with Jai’s imperiousness and high-handedness anymore, spoke up in a composed but quietly furious voice, ‘as a matter of fact, you are, Mr. Walia.’
Saurabh and Pooja almost did a double take on hearing Bani answer back Jai and so did Pushkar, and even Meera, who could not help but smirk at what she knew was coming from Jai now.
Jai simply stared at Bani for some time and then smiling deliberately said in a slow voice, ‘Then I apologize for the delay caused, Miss. Dixit.’
And all of a sudden getting up, he linked his arms around Meera and said cheerfully, ‘Let’s go Meera…you seem to be withering out of hunger and Miss. Dixit seems mighty displeased that I am delaying her plans…I am obviously not a popular guy today.’
Saying that he laughed heartily, even as the others managed to snigger in a polite manner, though Bani kept standing without any expression.
Jai smiled shortly at Pushkar and said, ‘Nice meeting you, Mr. Singh.’
‘Pushkar, Sir. And please let me tell you, that I am your biggest fan.’ Prattled Pushkar in an awestruck voice.
Jai looked amused but replied back courteously, ‘Is that so? Well, thank you, Pushkar. Hope to see you again very soon.’
Saurabh, Pooja and Pushkar waited respectfully in the side-lines for Jai and Meera to leave before they too left, but Jai asked them casually, ‘Can I drop you somewhere?’
‘Thank you, Sir. But we have a Car today.’ Replied Saurabh in a gratifying tone.
‘Okay then…enjoy your evening.’ And turning to look at Bani, who was watching somewhere else fixatedly, he said in a throaty voice, loaded with meaning, ‘and you too, Miss. Dixit.’
Bani simply gave him an icy look back and walked away without saying a word.
Part 10
The evening continues...
Pushkar, Saurabh and Pooja left for their evening out after bidding goodbye to Bani, who now had a pounding headache and an equally bad heartache. All she wanted to do was make herself a cup of tea, swallow an asprin and go to sleep. This was worse than anything she had imagined. How on earth was she going to spend thirteen more days in this hell, with the enormous task of organzing the wedding as well as dealing with Jai, who was behaving in the most inexplicably obnoxious way.
Bani hoped that his stay in the Farmhouse was only for a day or two and that he would go back to his apartment, but she suspected that he was here to stay.
The Driveway
After seating Meera inside his latest BMW 4 Series, he called for Abdul and spoke quietly to him, 'Abdul, no one is around in the house except Bani Madam. Please make sure that she is safe and none of the others servants should be seen wandering inside the house...especially not the newer ones. Okay?'
'Ji Sahabji.'
'And...I have called Matthew from the other house. I am going to stay here for a couple of days, so he might as well come here. When he arrives, tell him to cook something for Madam. Ask her what she wants to eat.'
'Ji Sahabji.'
'And don't you dare tell her that I gave all these instructions.'
'Ji Sahabji.'
'Also, we might get late...so you just go to sleep. Bahadur will let me in. Goodnight.'
'Ji Sahabji. Goodnight and have a nice evening, Sahabji.' saluted Abdul and moved back, but not without a slight smile on his face, wondering about what on earth was going on between Bani and Jai.
Bani's Room
Abdul knocked politely on the door and when Bani opened it, he asked in a concerned voice, 'Madamji is not feeling well? Should I call the Doctor?'
'No...No...Abdul Chacha. I am fine. I just...have a headache.'
'That's because you skipped your lunch, Madamji. Didn't you mother tell you that skipping meals was as bad as having tea on an empty stomach.'
Bani could not help but laugh a little and said, 'I am okay, really. I will just have a fruit or something.'
'You can have fruits too...but after you have had your meals.'
'No, Abdul Chacha. I don't want to have anything from outside. Restaurant food doesn't suit me very much. I am fine, really. Please don't bother so much because of me.'
'No outside food, Madamji. Bade Sahab's cook has come here and he will prepare anything you tell him. Would you like some simple Dal, Sabzi and Chappati?'
Looking surprised, Bani remarked, 'Mr. Walia's cook? Why? Is he going to stay at the Farmhouse?'
'Yes, I think so. Bade Sahabji's relatives are also going to come for the wedding in a week's time, so I think he has decided to stay here. And that is why Matthew, Bade Sahabji's cook was called. So what would you like for dinner?'
Bani sighed in silence, wondering about Jai staying back at the Farmhouse and before she could say anything, Abdul remarked cheerfully, 'I will tell him to prepare Paneer Shimla Mirch and Yellow Dal. It is Bade Sahab's favourite meal also! You will like it.'
And saying that Abdul scampered off, leaving Bani to remember the last meal, she and Jai had shared at the Mukteshwar Cottage that Jai had rented. What a beautiful night...eating under the star-lit sky, playing scrabble, drinking coffee...chatting on everything under the Sun. And those three wishes...Bani smiled to herself when she remembered Jai telling her to ask any three things from him in return for taking care of him.
Bani was about to shut the door of her room, when she realized something with a start.
The wish. Her first wish. That Jai reconcile with his younger brother.
And he had done that. That is why the wedding was happening in Jai's Farmhouse.
Oh. God. He had actually fulfilled her wish.
Tears of joy clouded her eyes and she wondered why had he gone ahead to fulfil her wish, breaking his vow of the last four years of not having any contact with his brother, if he did not care for her.
Jai had no reason to keep his word...yet he did.
Why was he behaving so strangely now?
Bani wished she had the answers...she wanted to find it out from Jai himself, but was torn between her duty and her personal feelings. She was here to to a job...and her commitment and loyalty to Jigyasa stopped her from doing anything that might jeopardize the wedding contract that Jai had given to Jigyasa. With Jai, one never really knew.
Sky Lounge, Bar and Coffee Shop
Meera was having the date of her nightmares, instead the one of her dreams, as she had assumed. Jai was being the worst date she had ever had in the history of her dating. He was inattentive, grumpy, morose and singularly rude to her from time to time, refusing to laugh on her jokes, giving only monosyllabic answers to all her questions and simply nodding with indifference or staring at her vacantly when she made random comments.
It was just getting unbearable and the only compensation for the disaster was that the drinks in the popular Bar were in plenty and Jai, if nothing else, was a most generous man. He gave standing orders to the Barman to keep supplying drinks to Meera for as long as she kept ordering and she in a bid to take revenge from her for spoiling her evening ordered the most expensive cocktails in the menu.
It was close to mid-night when Jai looked at his watch and said, 'Lets call it a day. I have work tomorrow.'
Meera, who had been at the Bar, pretty much drunk and flirting with the s**y barman, gave him a look and said, 'Oh! Finally! It’s over, is it? I was thinking this evening will NEVER end.'
Jai simply gave a poker-faced stare at her and said, 'let’s go.' and catching hold of her hands, took her from there.
Farmhouse
Saurabh and Pooja had been dropped to the Farmhouse by Pushkar and after having bid goodnight to Bani, they went off to their respective rooms. Only Bani was unable to sleep, despite having eaten a good, wholesome meal that Jai's cook had prepared for her. She kept looking at the clock, waiting for Jai and Meera to come back.
Her room afforded the partial view of the main entrance and when she saw a BMW cruising inside the Farmhouse, she switched off her lights, knowing that he was back.
She had switched off the lights and was going to sleep when she heard a sort of commotion coming from outside, as in from the living room. Surprised at the sound of breaking glass and some amount of shouting in a female voice, she went out of the room and stood at the landing of the stairs to look at what was going on.
Much to her shock, Meera was punch drunk and was creating quite a racket, while Jai was standing impassively, telling her in a polite, detached voice to go to her room, but she was barely able to stand straight.
'Meera, for goodness sake...it’s alright. It’s just a Vase. Now go to your room, please. Here, let me support you.'
'Oh! I am so sorryyyyyyyyyy for the Vase, Jai sweetie...I didn't see it! Just tell Purva's parents to pay for it...after all you are the boy's side.' And saying that she broke into a high-pitched giggle, evoking an exasperated grunt from Jai.
'I will. Thank you for the suggestion. Now can I drop you to your room? Or do you want to spend the night here on the couch?' Jai was patient and indifferent
'Why don't we go to YOUR room? That idiotic Abdul of yours was saying that no one is allowed there, is it? Why? Have you hidden the Nizam's jewels in your room?' And saying that she broke into another round of drunken laughter.
'Oh! Lord!' mumbled Jai and then giving one look at Meera, said, 'I think its better than you go to your room and sleep till late tomorrow. You had too much to drink.'
'What else was I supposed to do? Dance? Why the hell did you take me out for dinner if all you had to do was sit like Mr. Scrooge and spoil my evening? I had heard that you were fun...and charming...and that your prowess in bed is unmatched. Grrrr....' Meera pounced on Jai, much to his amusement and he spoke with a great amount of imperturbability and civility, 'I am sorry for spoiling your evening. I guess, it was one of my bad days. And I don't know who has been spreading rumours about my prowess in bed. Nothing like that. I am just a very ordinary lover.'
'Well, we can decide that now, can't we?' asked Meera, winking at Jai, causing him to choke with laughter and trying his best to control his mirth at her drunken ramblings.
'Er....thank you for the offer. But I think I will pass. Come now...be a good girl. Let me take you upstairs?'
'I can't walk...I am feeling so nauseous...' mumbled Meera, before collapsing in a heap into Jai's arms.
Jai simply gave a loud sigh of exasperation and taking off his jacket, rolled the sleeves of his shirt and picked up Meera in his arms, walking up the stairs. Bani quickly went inside her room and shut it close.
She heard the sound of a door being shut...Meera's room, that was just across the corridor and then as she was about to go back to the bed, she heard a sound of groaning a something collapsing with a huge thud.
Panicked by the sound, wondering if Meera had fallen off Jai's arms, she rushed outside her room and stood in shock, when she saw Jai on the floor, writhing in pain, holding his lower back. He was in such mortal agony, that he could barely even utter a sound.
'JAI!' she yelled in horror and rushed towards him, taking his neck in her hands and cradling him in her arms.
'What happened? God! I will call someone...ABDUL...'
'No...No...he won't hear...' groaned Jai, as sweat broke off his face and he clearly struggled to even breathe.
Horrified by the sight of him in such pain, Bani was already in tears and she said, 'I...Jai...I have to call someone...Oh! God...what happened to you...'
Jai was in such pain that he has simply held her body to support himself and all he could mumble was, 'Take me...in...inside...injection...back...back-pocket...spine...Ohh...' and gave a caterwaul as a spasm of pain shot through his entire body.
With great difficulty, Bani made him stand up and supporting him, looked here and there. Jai's room was in the other wing of the Farmhouse...there was no way that he could walk up-till there and the closest room to where they were now was Meera's...there was no way she could take him there, given how Meera had just looked. Throwing his arm around her shoulder to support him and barely able to stand up herself, due to his weight on her, she managed to take him inside her room and lay him on her bed, literally collapsing herself with exhaustion
Jai looked absolutely indisposed by now, his face was red and his entire body was sweating. Given that she had tended to her father for a couple of months, she instantly recognized the signs of high-blood pressure and knew that she had to do something immediately.
Jai was almost comatose with pain by now and kept mumbling incoherently, 'Injection...spine...pocket...'
Bani managed to turn over Jai slightly and feeling the back pocket of his trousers, took out a syringe and an ampoule filled with liquid. She looked terrified at what she was about to do...having no clue as to what the medicine was yet feeling utterly helpless at seeing Jai in this condition.
Not wasting any more time, she cracked open the ampoule and drew the liquid with the syringe and uttering a quick prayer, turned Jai over, lifting his shirt hastily and feeling the end of his spine with fingers, injected the syringe, causing Jai to yelp with another agonized cry. Bani could not help but burst into tears when she saw him yelling with pain and instantly lifted his head to put it on her lap and soothed him.
The medication seemed to work almost instantly, as his breathing became more normal and the sweating stopped, while he lay buried with his head in her lap, clutching her waist. Bani rubbed his hair gently and kept asking him, 'Jai, are you okay? Jai...please say something...Jai...listen, I am calling for Abdul...we need to take you to the hospital...or call your doctor...or whatever...JAI...say something!' And saying that she burst out crying like a child, wondering what had happened to him all of a sudden.
'I...I...m...okay...no...Abdul...no doc...okay...better....just...sleep...' he mumbled in a slurred voice, the effect of the strong lumbar epidural spinal pain-killer taking its effect.
She kept sitting in the exact same position, till she was sure that Jai had actually fallen asleep and with great tenderness, lifted his head and placed it slowly on the pillow. Caressing his hair softly for some time, she took the end of her duppata and wiped his face, which was wet with perspiration by now. Bending to put her ears near his nose to hear if he was breathing steadily, she heaved a sigh of relief and then proceeded to take his shoes and socks off, rubbing the sole of his feet, since his body still felt very cold because of the attack he just had.
Going inside the attached bathroom, she soaked a cotton towel, wringing it dry and came back to wipe Jai's face and neck once more. As she was about to cover him with her duvet, she noticed a cut on his back...where she had injected him. Gingerly lifting his shirt up till his shoulders, Bani almost gave a gasp of shock when she saw the nine inch gash starting from his neck reaching up till his lower vertebrae. The major surgery he had for Spinal Cancer...though the cut had healed, the scar was still there and it terrified Bani to even look at it, making her wonder, how he had gone through not only the physical pain of operation but the emotional agony too.
Tears rolled down her eyes, as she hastily pulled his shirt back, not able to bear looking at the scar and the thought of how much it would have hurt Jai, covering him with her duvet and sitting beside him on the floor, with her head resting on her folded arms.
Next Day Morning
Bani blinked her eyes, rubbing them a couple of times and suddenly realized that someone was knocking impatiently on her door. Hastily getting up, her eyes fell on Jai, who was still sleeping on her bed and then she heard Pooja's frantic voice calling out for her.
Feeling trapped at her situation, Bani wondered what possible explanation could she give to Pooja when she saw Jai sleeping in her bed and making a quick decision, she went to open the door, but only a little, peeping her head out and blocking Pooja's view of the room.
'Bani! I was so worried! Thank God, you are here!'
'Huh? What do you mean? Of course, I am here! Why, what happened?' Bani muttered, feeling nervous about Pooja spotting Jai in her bedroom.
'Arre...Mr. W has simply vanished in thin air! Abdul is totally gone mad with anxiety! Come down...soon...'
Bani could only stare at Pooja in complete stupefaction, as she closed the door and glanced at Jai.
Now what on earth was she supposed to do? She had just checked him, he was sound asleep and downstairs, everyone was searching for him.
What was she going to tell Abdul? The poor man was obviously at his wits end on not seeing his master in the house.
Bani took a quick bath and changed into a fresh set of clothes, checking on Jai once more, before going out of her room.
Saurabh, Pooja, Meera were assembled at the breakfast table and while Meera looked like a ship-wreck, trying to overcome her hangover of the previous night, Saurabh and Pooja looked genuinely concerned about Jai's disappearance, along with Abdul, who was almost in the verge of tears.
On seeing Bani, he exclaimed, 'Madamji! Bade Sahab has vanished! Gone!'
Feeling acutely guilty, Bani spoke in a soothing voice, 'Abdul Chacha...you are getting worried over nothing. He must be around somewhere...maybe he has gone for a jog...or...'
'No...No...Madamji. Sahabji has very set habits. And Bahadur would have seen him go outside for a jog if he had indeed gone. He only saw him coming back home at mid-night with Meera Madamji...and now he is nowhere to be seen. I am so worried...Bade Sahab has too many enemies...I have to do something...I will call up Ranveer Sahabji...I will call up Chote Sahabji...and I will call the Police Commissioner...he is Bade Sahabji's friend...'
Bani gasped with panic on hearing Abdul's lamentations and hastily said to him, 'You are over-reacting, Abdul Chacha! Don't call up everyone like that! Please! Just wait for him for some time more...'
'No Bani, he is right! Mr. W is nowhere to be seen! And he did come back yesterday night...with her! She was the last one to see him! Where did he go after that?' remarked Saurabh, giving an accusing stare at Meera, who looked completely bored and uninterested in Jai's whereabouts.
'Why the hell are you staring at me like that? I don't even remember coming back with him here...' snapped Meera, on seeing Pooja, Saurabh and even Abdul giving her hard, suspicious stares.
And then giving a scornful glare at everyone, Meera announced in a wicked tone, 'Maybe those two escaped from Delhi Zoo and came back to take their revenge from Jai!' and saying that burst into laughter, even as Abdul wiped his tears, making Bani feel acutely remorseful about hiding Jai's whereabouts.
Ignoring Meera's jibes, Saurabh said to everyone, 'We have to do something. How could he vanish into thin air? Abdul Chacha...have you checked all the rooms? There are so many of them here!'
'Haan Sirji...I checked all rooms...except the ones occupied by Meera Madamji and you people.'
'Hey! He is not in my room! I asked him to come with me yesterday night but he chickened out!' announced Meera.
Bani was now feeling weak in her knees...what was she going to do, if Abdul and Saurabh decided to search all the rooms, including hers, once again? Now it would look even odder to see Jai lying on her bed with his clothes in disarray.
Saurabh announced to everyone, 'Guys, let’s spread out and start looking for Mr. W once again! Who knows what might have happened? He may have fainted or something...let’s check our rooms also...just in case.'
Bani could barely breathe and she mumbled, 'But Saurabh...'
Just then, all of them heard, Jai's deep voice, sounding a bit drained but just as commanding and insentiently arrogant, calling out for Abdul, 'ABDUL! CHAI!'
All of them looked completely dumbstruck and stared at one another.
'What the hell...' mumbled Pooja, staring at Bani, who had a hard time trying to look just as clueless as the others were.
'Where did that come from now?' questioned Saurabh, equally shocked.
'Hai! Sahabji is back! Sahabji is back.' yelled Abdul with joy, when he saw Jai walking down the stairs, wearing grey sweat-pants and a black Nike T-shirt, evidently going for his workout. He had an exhausted look to his face but otherwise he looked fine.
'Why on earth are you staring at me like that?' questioned Jai, when he saw Abdul, Saurabh, Pooja and Meera looking at him like they had seen a ghost.
Abdul stammered, 'Sahabji...we were so worried...you were nowhere to be found since morning...I was going to call the Police...'
Cutting him short, Jai snapped, 'Are you crazy? I was right here in my room.'
Abdul blinked his eyes and looking mighty confused, muttered back, 'But I came to your room in the morning to give newspaper and tea at your usual time, Sahabji...you were not there. I checked the balcony...and the bathroom also...'
'Nonsense. I was in my room. Now stop arguing and get me a cup of tea and the papers too.' Jai declared, putting an end to any more conversation on his early morning disappearance.
Saurabh and Pooja slinkered away in silence, while Abdul walked across to the kitchen scratching his head in confusion on Jai's mysterious disappearance and his equally mysterious appearance, while Meera looked suspiciously at both Jai and Bani.
Bani was going pink in the face, trying to subdue her laughter, while Jai had to actually bite his lips to control his own, as he sat down at the dining table and skimmed through a newspaper that was already lying there.
Meera simply stared at both of them and then making some inaudible comments walked back to her room. Bani, who had just taken a seat got up and mumbling a very soft 'Excuse me' started to walk out to the Porch to join Saurabh and Pooja, when Jai shocked the life out of her, by catching hold of her wrist, making her bangles jingle.
As she looked back at him in total surprise, he gave a very tiny smile and said simply, 'Thank you. For saving my life.' and then with a flicker in his eyes, added, 'Miss Dixit.'
She looked back at him, going warm in her face and releasing her hands from his grip, answered back with extra politeness, 'Please don't mention it. The pleasure is all mine.' and then added after a pause, 'Mr. Walia.'
Jai could barely keep the smile of his face, when Abdul came back with his tea making him wonder what on earth was happening to his boss, while Bani proceeded to hold the meeting with Saurabh and Pooja regarding the work they had, with a kind of renewed enthusiasm and joy, that had been missing from her ever since they had landed in Jai's Farmhouse.
Verandah / Porch
Saurabh, Pooja and Bani sat down with their work for a good part of the morning and since Jai's cook had arrived, they all got a good breakfast, instead of the tasteless bran muesli that Jai so preferred to eat.
'Bani...the designer is coming today around 2 to have a look at the venue...and I have called up the Bangalore Office and spoke to Onir already...he will start the work of personalizing the table clothes, linen etc. as soon as we give the go ahead from here. That should be wrapped up in the next one week.'
'And Bani, I have spoken to Nishanth...he has set up the Fast-track planning software...all we need to do is coordinate from here. Is there Wi-Fi available here?' asked Saurabh.
'I am not sure...I will check with Abdul.' answered Bani, sounding doubtful whether Abdul would have an idea about it or now.
'What else? Have we set up a meeting with Mr. Aggarwal? When is he coming to inspect the kitchen etc.?' asked Bani.
'Oh! God! That is one story, Bani! He came in the morning today...in the midst of Mr. W's disappearance drama...and one of Mr. W's boys... that Pythagoras...or Prometheus or whatever it is called jumped on him!' exclaimed Pooja with a shudder.
'What?'
'Yes...poor Mr. Aggarwal. All of 70 years old and one foot in the grave already! He almost had a heart-attack...and then just ran out of the Farmhouse...refused to stay here for even one minute!'
'But, what about the meeting, Saurabh? We have to update Jigyasa Mam!' exclaimed Bani in dismay.
'Mr. Aggarwal refuses to come here till we get the Dogs out of the way! He is terrified of them and frankly, so are we! And then we have the contractor and his workers coming down tomorrow...I cannot imagine what they are going to do!'
'How will we get our work done like this, Bani?' whined Pooja.
Bani sat quietly, pondering on the dilemma, and then spoke in a doubtful voice, 'Should we call up Jigyasa Mam and explain the problem? She is friends with Mr. Walia...I am sure she can explain how difficult it is for us to work under such conditions.'
'Nah! You know Jigyasa Mam, Bani! She will totally lose it, if we call her up for this issue! Besides, she has given you the responsibility of this place! I think you should go and speak to Mr. Walia regarding his boys!' said Saurabh.
'Me? No! He won't like it!' said Bani slowly.
'You are representing Jigyasa Mam's office here, Bani...it would make a lot of sense if you go and speak to him! Please yaar...get rid of those Dogs! I am terrified of them! And on top of everything, they are not even chained! That T-rex type looking thing keeps staring at me!' cried Pooja, making both Bani and Saurabh laugh.
Bani got up reluctantly and taking pity on both her colleagues and understanding where they were coming from, said to them, 'Okay...I will have a word with him and see what he says. But if he refuses point blank, then we will have to call up Jigyasa Mam and let her handle this situation. Okay?'
'Perfect! Go now...while Pooja and I get these seating arrangements in order. The vendor is coming down anytime now...we will probably have to go outside the gates and hold the meeting in his Vehicle!'
Bani laughed and tossing her head walked back into the house. Though she had no wish to come face to face with Jai anytime now, she was just doing her professional duty and hoped that Jai won't give her a hard time, like he had done yesterday. Besides, she was dying to see how he was feeling now...she could not forget how much in pain and agony he had been the previous night and the very thought of him, writhing with pain gave her shivers.
'Abdul Chacha, where is your Bade Sahib right now? I want to speak to him regarding something.' asked Bani.
'Hmm...I think he will be in his study, Madamji. The room right next to his bedroom.'
'Oh! Thank you!'
Jai's study
Bani took a deep breath and then knocked politely on the door just once.
'Come in!' growled Jai's voice, throwing back Bani in shock. He had the most impactful voice she had ever heard...best suited for psyching out witnesses in the court-room, she guessed.
Pushing open the heavy oak door, she put her head in slightly and noticed that Jai was sitting behind his desk, engrossed in some papers, muttering something in irritation, as he flicked them rudely. He was dressed a bit formally to her surprise...since he was working from home. But she remembered how particular he had always been regarding his appearance. Bani could not help agreeing with Pooja's crush on him...and Meera's lusting for him. He was quite a sight in his well-cut and well-groomed hair, wearing a black shirt with the first three buttons undone, exposing his tanned chest, steel grey trousers which fitted his lean body to perfection, his favourite Rolex, black shoes and looking thoroughly s**y.
Bani felt acutely surprised to see that he had reading glasses on. She had never seen him wearing glasses before and could not help but feel how cute he looked in them.
'Can I have a moment with you?' she asked politely.
Jai looked up in surprise but instantly changed his expression to that of indifference and said, 'Yes?' taking off his glasses and keeping them on the papers he had been reading.
He noticed how appealing she looked today...her hair was tied in a loose ponytail and some strands had escaped and were playing with her cheeks. She had put a little bit of kajal in her eyes, which sparkled with vitality...and he could not lift his eyes of her slim waist and shapely hips, as they moved with grace when she walked.
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