Part 13 B
Nachiket lived in a PG and his flat was located in a crowded lane, Jai found it impossible to get his Car inside it and leaving it parked on the road, he strode towards his house, each step feeling heavier than the other…what if Nachiket makes his worst fears come true…what if he says that he is in a relationship with Bani…or even that they are more than just good friends…What? Jai did not know the answer to that what? But he was determined to find out…if not for himself.
He wondered if Nachiket would be home, remembering that Purva had talked about meeting him today…standing in front of the grilled door, he took a deep breath and was about to press the bell, when the door flung open and a flushed looking Bani came giggling out, ‘You can’t get everything you want….’ her teasing voice resounded in Jai’s shocked ears. Nachiket who looked a bit tousled had launched himself on her and was about to hold her from going out, when they both saw, Jai’s frozen self standing near the door.
There was no dialogue between the three of them, they just kept staring at one another, till Nachiket cleared his throat and spoke haltingly, ‘Jai…Er, I mean, Mr. Walia…what a surprise?’
Jai noticed that Nachiket was holding the Claw Clip in his hand and Bani who’s hair had come out flying all over her face, pushed them back and kept staring at him, wordlessly.
‘Yes…quite a surprise, isn’t it?’ Jai’s voice held immense sarcasm.
There was again an awkward pause and silence, till Bani composed herself and addressed to Nachiket, ‘I…I better be going…’
Jai cut in and said, ‘Yes…that would be rather nice…else Purva might get a bit of a shock!’
They both stared at Jai, looking confused and scared at his expression and she spoke timidly, ‘Purva is coming…’
‘Unfortunately for her and for you, yes…’
Bani looked back at Nachiket who looked equally clueless at the tone Jai was taking and wondered if he should explain something or just keep quiet. He decided it would be wiser to keep his mouth shut, as the last time he had opened it, had landed him in big trouble.
Just then Purva walked in from behind and stood still, taking in the look of the trio and then said slowly, ‘Am I at the wrong moment?’
Jai turned to look at her and without any expression said, ‘No Purva…you are right on time…and as it happens, so am I.’
There was an awkward silence again, till Purva said gently, ‘Nachiket…can we talk?’
Nachiket who looked both delighted at Purva’s arrival, which he was eagerly anticipating but not expecting and also terrified at Jai’s behaviour, quietly ushered Purva in his room.
Jai and Bani kept standing still and then she spoke inaudibly, ‘I…I think I should be going now…’
Nachiket asked suddenly, ‘How will you go back Bani? Its raining…shall I get you a Cab or Auto?’
Before Bani could refuse him, Jai caught hold of Bani’s hand, forcefully and in a clipped tone said, ‘don’t worry…I’ll take care of her.’
Before a dazed Nachiket, disoriented Purva and a shocked Bani could react, Jai dragged her down the stairs, right through the lane and shoved her roughly into the front seat of his Car.
Taking off his jacket and throwing it in the back seat, he started the engine and roared away in complete silence and a sky-ravaged expression on his dark face.
There was not a single word of communication between the two of them and Bani sat, twiddling her fingers and in between looking at his face, wondering what exactly was going on. Why was Jai in such a cold rage? Just because she had not returned his phone call? Should she tell him that she had planned to take a Cab from Nachiket’s flat and come straight to Jai and meet him? Tell him that she had a few things to confess? Ask him why he had left her party so abruptly? Ask him why he did not take Rano’s dare and tell the truth that was in his heart? There were so many questions to be asked and answered, but she said nothing…Jai was scaring the life out of her now and till he gave some explanations, she did not have the courage to offer some of her own.
It had started raining lightly and it looked as if there was going to be a deluge tonight…
After the very mute and daunting ride of 30 minutes, Jai brought his Car to a halt some distance from Bani’s house and cutting the engine, looked at her with cold eyes and spoke in clear, cutting and cruel voice;
‘Tell Rano…I took her dare.’
‘What?’ came out Bani’s dazed voice, surprised that he had spoken exactly on one of the questions that she had on her mind.
Jai repeated in the same cold, dead voice, ‘Tell your sister, I took her dare…I opened my heart and came out with the truth.’
‘What truth?’ Bani’s voice was faint, heard against the rainfall beating on the windows of the Car in which they both sat.
‘Tell her that I think you are nothing more than a scheming, manipulative, cunning wretch…’
Bani was so taken aback at the statement that she kept staring at him with her mouth open.
‘Tell her that the best decision I made in my life was breaking off that damn engagement with you…’
‘Tell her that behind all that outward show of simplicity and naivety lies a girl who entertains herself by playing emotional games with people who care for her.’
‘Jai, what are you saying…’ Bani looked so traumatized by his words and the look of insanity in his eyes, her voice barely audible to him.
Holding her roughly by her shoulder, he continued remorselessly and ruthlessly, ‘Tell her that I feel you care for no one else’s feelings or emotions and would happily trample over them, as long as it serves to amuse you…’
‘Tell her that I think you have no character, no morals, no principles and no standing in life…you do what you want to do…even at the cost of the people who…who love you…’
‘Tell her that in all my life, I have never been so let down, so disgusted and so sickened as I am now, by this display of sugary sweetness which holds an essentially nasty, mean and cruel heart…’
He stopped, unable to go on anymore, choked and overwhelmed, taking a deep breath, his hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly, she felt they would explode anytime.
Bani sat motionless, her eyes had filled with tears but the impact of Jai’s words was so formidable, that they seemed frozen in her eyes.
There was absolute stillness for sometime and Jai’s face looked like a particularly black rainstorm.
Thumping his hand with a sudden jerk, strongly on the steering wheel, a shrill honk emancipating from it, he gritted his teeth and looking at her unmoving visage said tersely, ‘Get out…this moment…get out of my Car…and out of my life…I don’t want to see your bloody face…get out before I lose my control totally and end up doing something unimaginable, Bani…just get out right now.’
Getting no reaction from her, he closed his eyes, as if to dam in his fury and opening his side of the door, got down and walked towards the other side, and violently opened the door.
Bani sat immobile and quiet, her eyes stunned and stupefied till Jai caught hold of her upper arm forcefully and shoved her out of the Car in one go.
They both stood in the pouring downfall, which drenched them both in a matter of few seconds. He glared at her and clenched his fists tightly, bringing them to hit on the bonnet of the Car with full force. The impact of his fist against the metal brought out a sound, which suddenly seemed to bring Bani back to life and she saw him getting into his Car and driving away on full speed.
It took Massi’s voice calling her out from the distance to break the spell and she collapsed on the middle of the road, crying hearwrenchingly.
She did not know when Massi followed by Mango had come running down to her and took her back home, soaking cold and feeling utterly done with. Despite Massi’s torrent of questions on what happened, Bani just kept crying and refused to say anything and despite many protests, she went and locked herself up in the room, not bothering to change into dry clothes. She sat huddled near the base of her bed, wet, hungry, exhausted and so empty, so hollow that it seemed she would never be able to fill it up ever again.
Despite Massi’s many remonstrations and requests, Bani refused to open her mouth and begged to be left alone…with only Mango sitting sorrowfully besides her, licking her in between affectionately.
The rain beat mercilessly against the window pane of her room and she sobbed copiously, her head buried in her folded knees, a cold shiver went up and down her spine, as she sat in her drenched clothes for the rest of the night.
To be continued in Part 13 C...and now all of you can
JW! ;)
Nachiket lived in a PG and his flat was located in a crowded lane, Jai found it impossible to get his Car inside it and leaving it parked on the road, he strode towards his house, each step feeling heavier than the other…what if Nachiket makes his worst fears come true…what if he says that he is in a relationship with Bani…or even that they are more than just good friends…What? Jai did not know the answer to that what? But he was determined to find out…if not for himself.
He wondered if Nachiket would be home, remembering that Purva had talked about meeting him today…standing in front of the grilled door, he took a deep breath and was about to press the bell, when the door flung open and a flushed looking Bani came giggling out, ‘You can’t get everything you want….’ her teasing voice resounded in Jai’s shocked ears. Nachiket who looked a bit tousled had launched himself on her and was about to hold her from going out, when they both saw, Jai’s frozen self standing near the door.
There was no dialogue between the three of them, they just kept staring at one another, till Nachiket cleared his throat and spoke haltingly, ‘Jai…Er, I mean, Mr. Walia…what a surprise?’
Jai noticed that Nachiket was holding the Claw Clip in his hand and Bani who’s hair had come out flying all over her face, pushed them back and kept staring at him, wordlessly.
‘Yes…quite a surprise, isn’t it?’ Jai’s voice held immense sarcasm.
There was again an awkward pause and silence, till Bani composed herself and addressed to Nachiket, ‘I…I better be going…’
Jai cut in and said, ‘Yes…that would be rather nice…else Purva might get a bit of a shock!’
They both stared at Jai, looking confused and scared at his expression and she spoke timidly, ‘Purva is coming…’
‘Unfortunately for her and for you, yes…’
Bani looked back at Nachiket who looked equally clueless at the tone Jai was taking and wondered if he should explain something or just keep quiet. He decided it would be wiser to keep his mouth shut, as the last time he had opened it, had landed him in big trouble.
Just then Purva walked in from behind and stood still, taking in the look of the trio and then said slowly, ‘Am I at the wrong moment?’
Jai turned to look at her and without any expression said, ‘No Purva…you are right on time…and as it happens, so am I.’
There was an awkward silence again, till Purva said gently, ‘Nachiket…can we talk?’
Nachiket who looked both delighted at Purva’s arrival, which he was eagerly anticipating but not expecting and also terrified at Jai’s behaviour, quietly ushered Purva in his room.
Jai and Bani kept standing still and then she spoke inaudibly, ‘I…I think I should be going now…’
Nachiket asked suddenly, ‘How will you go back Bani? Its raining…shall I get you a Cab or Auto?’
Before Bani could refuse him, Jai caught hold of Bani’s hand, forcefully and in a clipped tone said, ‘don’t worry…I’ll take care of her.’
Before a dazed Nachiket, disoriented Purva and a shocked Bani could react, Jai dragged her down the stairs, right through the lane and shoved her roughly into the front seat of his Car.
Taking off his jacket and throwing it in the back seat, he started the engine and roared away in complete silence and a sky-ravaged expression on his dark face.
There was not a single word of communication between the two of them and Bani sat, twiddling her fingers and in between looking at his face, wondering what exactly was going on. Why was Jai in such a cold rage? Just because she had not returned his phone call? Should she tell him that she had planned to take a Cab from Nachiket’s flat and come straight to Jai and meet him? Tell him that she had a few things to confess? Ask him why he had left her party so abruptly? Ask him why he did not take Rano’s dare and tell the truth that was in his heart? There were so many questions to be asked and answered, but she said nothing…Jai was scaring the life out of her now and till he gave some explanations, she did not have the courage to offer some of her own.
It had started raining lightly and it looked as if there was going to be a deluge tonight…
After the very mute and daunting ride of 30 minutes, Jai brought his Car to a halt some distance from Bani’s house and cutting the engine, looked at her with cold eyes and spoke in clear, cutting and cruel voice;
‘Tell Rano…I took her dare.’
‘What?’ came out Bani’s dazed voice, surprised that he had spoken exactly on one of the questions that she had on her mind.
Jai repeated in the same cold, dead voice, ‘Tell your sister, I took her dare…I opened my heart and came out with the truth.’
‘What truth?’ Bani’s voice was faint, heard against the rainfall beating on the windows of the Car in which they both sat.
‘Tell her that I think you are nothing more than a scheming, manipulative, cunning wretch…’
Bani was so taken aback at the statement that she kept staring at him with her mouth open.
‘Tell her that the best decision I made in my life was breaking off that damn engagement with you…’
‘Tell her that behind all that outward show of simplicity and naivety lies a girl who entertains herself by playing emotional games with people who care for her.’
‘Jai, what are you saying…’ Bani looked so traumatized by his words and the look of insanity in his eyes, her voice barely audible to him.
Holding her roughly by her shoulder, he continued remorselessly and ruthlessly, ‘Tell her that I feel you care for no one else’s feelings or emotions and would happily trample over them, as long as it serves to amuse you…’
‘Tell her that I think you have no character, no morals, no principles and no standing in life…you do what you want to do…even at the cost of the people who…who love you…’
‘Tell her that in all my life, I have never been so let down, so disgusted and so sickened as I am now, by this display of sugary sweetness which holds an essentially nasty, mean and cruel heart…’
He stopped, unable to go on anymore, choked and overwhelmed, taking a deep breath, his hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly, she felt they would explode anytime.
Bani sat motionless, her eyes had filled with tears but the impact of Jai’s words was so formidable, that they seemed frozen in her eyes.
There was absolute stillness for sometime and Jai’s face looked like a particularly black rainstorm.
Thumping his hand with a sudden jerk, strongly on the steering wheel, a shrill honk emancipating from it, he gritted his teeth and looking at her unmoving visage said tersely, ‘Get out…this moment…get out of my Car…and out of my life…I don’t want to see your bloody face…get out before I lose my control totally and end up doing something unimaginable, Bani…just get out right now.’
Getting no reaction from her, he closed his eyes, as if to dam in his fury and opening his side of the door, got down and walked towards the other side, and violently opened the door.
Bani sat immobile and quiet, her eyes stunned and stupefied till Jai caught hold of her upper arm forcefully and shoved her out of the Car in one go.
They both stood in the pouring downfall, which drenched them both in a matter of few seconds. He glared at her and clenched his fists tightly, bringing them to hit on the bonnet of the Car with full force. The impact of his fist against the metal brought out a sound, which suddenly seemed to bring Bani back to life and she saw him getting into his Car and driving away on full speed.
It took Massi’s voice calling her out from the distance to break the spell and she collapsed on the middle of the road, crying hearwrenchingly.
She did not know when Massi followed by Mango had come running down to her and took her back home, soaking cold and feeling utterly done with. Despite Massi’s torrent of questions on what happened, Bani just kept crying and refused to say anything and despite many protests, she went and locked herself up in the room, not bothering to change into dry clothes. She sat huddled near the base of her bed, wet, hungry, exhausted and so empty, so hollow that it seemed she would never be able to fill it up ever again.
Despite Massi’s many remonstrations and requests, Bani refused to open her mouth and begged to be left alone…with only Mango sitting sorrowfully besides her, licking her in between affectionately.
The rain beat mercilessly against the window pane of her room and she sobbed copiously, her head buried in her folded knees, a cold shiver went up and down her spine, as she sat in her drenched clothes for the rest of the night.
To be continued in Part 13 C...and now all of you can
JW! ;)
Part 13 C
Jai drove back home in silence and after shoving off Bhavesh from the house, he went to his Bar and looked for something to drink. A stiff, neat whisky was what he needed…to get her out of his mind! Fumbling through the Bar with shaking fingers, he couldn’t find his preferred brand and suddenly, losing the temper that he had so vehemently controlled till now broke and taking the first bottle that came in his hand, he threw it on the ground with such force, it shattered into a thousand pieces all over the floor. Ravaged by grief and overcome by the complete loss of emotional and physical control, he took one bottle after another, smashing it down on the floor, hurting himself in the process, but not stopping till he found the one he was looking for.
Drenched to the bones by rain, wounded, tired, utterly dejected and heartbroken, he clamped his hands over the bottle and with a despondent, feeble smile, took it down with him till he reached the couch where he collapsed. Slowly opening the cork, he took a sip of the drink directly, the harsh liquid burning his throat, but he felt completely indifferent to the taste and just kept taking sips after sips, staring listelessly at the celing above.
Breaking the deathly silence of the room, the phone rang and Jai let it ring till it went on voice mail. It was his Father calling;
‘Ok, as I guessed…you must be out for the evening…I guess, now you will be out for all the evenings…(A jovial laughter followed) Just called to say that I am so happy for you and Bani…and that I wish you both a lifetime of happiness and love…bless you both my children! (Pausing for a moment) When you get my message, please call me back, both of you, I’ve to speak with my would be daughter-in-law about what an idiot my son has been…taking so long to come out with his feelings…and what a wonderful girl she was…to wait patiently and accept him back with such grace! Erm, Jai, I think the message counter is going to run out, so I’ll disconnect the call and please do anything, but don’t call me back, saying you still haven’t confessed to Bani…if that is so, consider I’ve disowned you for ever! (Chuckles) Bye…Love Dad!’
The answering machine went quiet and when the words had sunk in, Jai dropped the now half-empty bottle from his hand on the floor with a thud and broke down crying…burying his face in the palm of his hands…crying for all that could be and all that was now…crying because he realized all of a sudden, that in a span of just one day, he had lost not only the woman he loved, but also a friend he cared about…crying because, after all that pompous talk about respecting a woman’s dignity, he had ruthlessly ripped apart the dignity and respect of the woman he loved…crying because, he had taken so long to come around with his feelings for Bani and taken so short a time to disregard it all with such contempt…crying because, he recongnized all that he had said to her was nothing but a fabrication of his own insecure mind and all that he had left unsaid was the absolute truth…crying because in a carefully, thoughtout and well-planned bid to make her his own, he had foolishly and impulsively lost her forever…
Jai was so overcome by his anguish and misery that he lay listlessly on the couch, staring blankly at the ceiling till fatigue and intoxication overcame him and he fell asleep.
Bani had also fallen asleep, curling herself on the cold floor, shivering throughout the night, with only Mango’s wooly body giving her some warmth.
The chirping of sparrows on the Gulmohar Tree awoke her and she rubbed her eyes, getting up slowly…was yesterday a bad dream…did it really happen? Did Jai actually say all those things to her…she sat upright for some time, looking like a ghost and it was only Mango’s warm, wet lick on her skin that brought her to the present?
Looking at him, she gave a thin smile and patted him lovingly on his head…and then when she looked out of the window, she saw that yesterday’s thunderstorm had given way to a beautiful morning…it was still quite early, but she could sense, it would be a clear, sunny and warm day.
She got up slowly and washing herself, changed into a fresh set of clothes and when she came out of the bathroom, she noticed there was an envelope lying in the partially opened chest of drawers besides the Bed, and it had her name written on top of it. Opening it slowly, she was surprised to see a pair of keys enclosed in them, taking it in her hands; she looked at it, wondering who’s keys they were and how come they were in her room. And then she saw a letter alongside, it was from Jai;
‘Happy Birthday Bani!
So today you turn 21…wow…finally a big girl! Thanks for inviting me for the party…I’m sorry, I was so preoccupied in the morning…couldn’t pay attention to you…but hey, I made it to the party, alright!
I remember your saying that you cared for my presence more than any gift…that is really sweet of you and very strange too…considering how much you favored the diamond engagement ring over your Finace.
Jokes apart, while I was driving to your home from Office, I wondered what I could possibly gift you…and then suddenly, I saw a partially open shop and, Eureka! There it was, all gleaming and shiny in bright Red…and I knew this was it! This was the gift that I was going to get you!
The Shop was a Car Showroom, owned by a business acquanintance…he was extremely helpful and possibly quite mystified, when I told him that I wanted to buy a Car right now…the one that was on the display window…the chromium plated, Red Santro…he started asking me all sort of questions on how I would prefer to make the payment, when can the representative come for a demonstration, the Engine capacity, the Mileage, blah blah blah…
I told him to shut up, gave him my credit card (Which you would be thilled to know is an American Express Black…By invitation only!) and told him that I want the thing delivered at your doorsteps at the earliest.
But I didn’t know how you would react to it…or what your Mother might say…an Engagement ring is easy enough to hide from others…but a Car might prove to be a tad too difficult to hide, isn’t it? So, I called up Rano on the way to your house and gave her the whole deal! She was as usual, hyper excited and all giggly…gosh, you two are so meant to be sisters! She promised me that she will convince your Mother and not tell you anything till the Car arrived…(I highly doubt that promise, though…)
So, I parked my Car in front of your house, took out my writing pad and wrote this Ramayan that you are reading right now…and then I handed this letter to Rano and told her to give it to you only when the Car is parked in your Garage.
So if you have this letter in your hand and the grin is not fading away, then please take these keys and go rushing down to your Garage, where you’ll find your 21st Birthday Present, all red and shiny!
I know that you have learnt driving, but do not have the confidence to drive… let this gift be an inspiration for you…for your next birthday, I want you to drive us down to the best Restaurant in town for your Birthday Celebration!
Promise me that and I give you one year’s time to be India’s Micheal Schumaker!
Wishing you loads of happiness, health and…and…whatever your heart desires…
Yours,
Jai
Bani stood still with the pair of keys hanging in her frozen hands and the letter fell from her other hand. She kept standing there in a stupor, till Massi came in worringly and said, ‘Beta…uth gayi? Yeh le, Chai peele le…raat ko ro, ro kar, aadhi ho gayi…hua kyat tha?’
Clutching the keys with force, she ran downstairs, as Massi looked on shocked, holding the cup of Tea and calling out her name, and Mango ran excitedly behind her.
She stopped only when she came near their unused Garage, which had its shutters up and saw the gleaming Red Car parked there. A cream colored ribbon with a bunch of satin and lace flowers in the middle of the bow was tied on the bonnet. Filled with inexplicable fury and anguish, she went inside the Garage and opened the front door of the Car.
Taking a deep breath, she remembered the instructions that her driving instructor had told her and she roared the engine into life and backed the Car, bumping into a couple of flowerpots and almost knocking down a horrified Massi, before driving out of the Driveway.
Breaking every possible traffic rule on her way, Bani drove without stopping, all the way to Civil Lines, a good 25 kilometeres from her house. No one stopped her on the way, mostly because it was very early in the morning and there was hardly anyone on the road, except perhaps a stray dog which yelped and ran for its life when it saw the Car approaching. When Jai’s watchman saw a Red Car approaching with speed towards the gates, he opened them in terror, least it banged into him and she drove straight in and only brought it to a halt, when it finally banged against a concrete structure on Jai’s lawns.
She had never driven a Car all on her own before…and even when driving with someone else, she had been extremely nervous and scared and today, she drove without fear, without concern and without any trepidation…Jai’s harsh words rang in her ears and she wanted to give it back to him…and that anger had fuelled the impetuousness of driving all the way on her own.
Bani’s hands were trembling unshakeably when the Engine had been cut off and she realized that not only her hands, but she was shaking vigourously from head to toe. Composing herself, she pulled out the keys and opening the door, strode furiously towards the house.
The heavy oak door was partially open, Jai in his tragic, self-pitying state had left it open and when she walked in, her eyes swollen and red and her body shaking with rage, Jai still had his eyes closed and was lying limp on the couch. He looked like a ghost himself, the first few buttons of his crumpled white shirt undone, his hair in a mess, an undergrowth on his chin giving the effect of total misery and loss. Bani noticed the shattered glass spread all over the room.
‘Jai…get up!’ Bani’s voice came out low pitched and quivery, but it was enough to wake him up.
He stared at her as if in a dream and shaking his head said in a shocked manner, ‘Bani? Bani…’ He looked as if he was watching a mirage.
She gave him a piercing look and said, ‘It’s your nightmare come true, Jai…get up right now…I need to tell something to you now.’
He kept staring at her, blinking his eyes rapidly and then as if to confirm once more, said slowly, ‘Bani…?’
‘Yes…Bani! The same Bani whom you have labeled as manipulative, shrewd, cunning, wicked and what not.’ She yelled loudly.
Still shaking his head in disbelief, he kept staring at her, trying to balance himself on the couch, the hangover was very evident and his head felt all wooly and heavy.
She went on, clutching her fists tightly, her throat choked and her voice so hurt, that Jai could feel the physical pain, ‘The same Bani whom you have accused of not caring for other’s emotions…who plays with the feelings of others for her own entertainment…’
‘Wait…listen…’went on Jai feebly, his voice not carrying any strength or conviction, partially because of the hangover and partially because he was still shocked over seeing her.
‘The same Bani who has no character…no morals…no ethic and no standing in life…Yes, I am that Bani…’
Jai had got up on his feet with great difficult and was swaying unsteadily, but he managed to utter, ‘Listen to me…please…’
‘Why should I listen to you Jai? What is there to listen now? Do you have some more epithets listed for me? Do you have some more words in your mental thesaurus that you want to hurl at me?’
Mopping his head, he closed his eyes and drawing on all his will-power, took control over his state and said slowly, ‘I don’t know what happened to me yesterday…I just lost control…I…I went mad…Bani, I am sorry…I really am…’
‘Sorry…You think your saying that is going to help now? Sorry? For what?’ She had tears spilling from her eyes now and even though she tried her best to control them, it just didn’t stop in her eyes.
Jai looked on miserably, shocked, dazed and guilty as hell.
She had started crying by now, not able to hold on any more and said bitterly, ‘It takes you one day to propose marriage to me, one month to decide that you don’t want to marry me, two months to decide that you won’t mind having me as a friend instead of a wife, 7 months to finally become a friend, 8 months to discover that its more than just friendship that we share…’
He gaped at her dully and she continued, biting her lip, a fresh batch of tears welling in her lovely brown eyes and said slowly, dejectedly, ‘And just one instant …just one moment…to finish everything…!’
Jai stood still, feeling anesthetized …to see her in such a state was wounding enough…but to see her like this, because of him…he wished he had been dead, before he could have brought Bani to this.
She stood crying for some more time and then wiping her face with her hand, looked at him in fury and said, ‘Your gift is standing outside and here are the keys…’ and then taking of her Engagement ring with great difficulty, since it had become a snug fit, kept it on the coffee table, near which he was standing and said in the same trembling voice, ‘And here is your Engagement ring…that you had donated to me with such kindness …I don’t want anything from you, Jai…least of all your pity. Keep it all to yourself. I don’t want to see you ever again…’
Breaking down crying loudly again, she turned and walked away and then almost as an afterthought, turned to look at him with sad eyes and said, ‘It took you 10 months to realize that you actually hate me afterall…and it took me the same time to realize that…’
They kept standing in silence for some time, till she spoke, her voice barely a murmur, ‘that…I love you, Jai…’
Pausing for a while, her cheeks inflamed after the tears had dried up, she said regretfully, ‘At least that proves what you said a few months back…we are definitely not on the same frequency…’
And then suddenly getting furious again, she said angirly, ‘It doesn’t matter now anyway…I am beyond caring…’
She stormed off, caught between those still unshed tears, exhaustion, pain, anger, and despair.
Jai kept standing in a stupor…all that Bani had just said to him went right through his head…all that he had said to her yesterday all went flying by somewhere…all that he had seen and assumed of Nachiket and Bani went dissolving past…everything went blank…except those three words…
I love you, Jai…
She loved him…Oh My God…Bani loved him…She did…She loved him….
Jai ran his fingers through his tousled hair in complete shock and then shaking himself up, ran outside, Bani was almost near the gate and he yelled at the top of his voice, ‘BANI…WAIT…BANI…I AM SORRY…BANI…PLEASE FORGIVE ME…’
She stopped to look at him, and so did the Guard, Bhavesh, his wife, their three kids, the Gardner, the Under Gardner, the Vegetable Vendor, the Milkman, Jai’s retired Army Colonel Neighbour who was watering his garden, his wife, son, daughter-in-law and their son who were outside, having Tea.
When she turned to look at him, he buckled down on his knees on the lawn and spreading his hands, holding the Engagement finger in one hand, said loudly enough for everyone to stare at him, ‘I LOVE YOU BANI…’
She kept standing, shocked and the Colonel, his wife, his son, daughter-in-law and their son all came near the common wall dividing both the farmhouses and saw the early morning spectacle…Jai Walia, the supersnob who hardly greeted them, in such a state of romoehood…not to be missed!
She got red in her face and yelled back, ‘I don’t give a damn for your dramatics…go to hell!’
The Colonel gave thumbs up to her, only to be admonished sternly by his wife, who had a soft-corner for Jai.
‘Bani…wait…please…Bani…don’t leave me…’ he pleaded, trying to catch his breath.
He ran fast enough to catch up with her and breathing heavily, caught hold of her shoulders and swerved her to face him, gazed into her eyes, breaking into a thin smile, ‘Wait…before you go…tell Rano…tell her that I took her Dare and lost the game…’
‘Whaaaat?’
His smile became more confident and not taking his eyes off her, Jai said slowly, ‘Tell her I lost it…because it was just a game…and that what I am saying now is the only truth of my life…the reason of my existence.’
She stared at him with mixed reaction and looking deeply into her eyes, he said, ‘I love you Bani.’ Unadorned, unpretentious and completely honest.
Without a single word more between them, he lifted her up in his arms, and carried her towards the parked Car. As she recovered from the shock, she hollered out in angry protest, but placing her gently on the bonnet of the Car, he took her head into his hands and digging his fingers deeply inside her still wet hair, covered her parted lips with his mouth. Shivering uncontrollably, she tried to push him in protest, but he deepened the passionate embrace and did not let her free, till she gave up fighting and just lay on the Car, caught in his warm, hold. Without lifting his face off hers, he slipped the Ring back into her Engagement finger…
When he finally let her go, he stared at her brick-red face and swollen lips and with a roguish twinkle in his eyes said, ‘Now tell me, are we on the same frequency or not?’ :heartbeats:
She kept staring at him, then at the ring which was back again where it belonged and then back at him, her eyes still showing traces of anger and then she noticed his eyes…they were full to the brim with love and adoration and she broke out laughing in between her tears, joined in by him and they hugged one another firmly, never to let go again!
A huge round of applause broke out, with only the Colonel sulking and commenting on the state of their neighbourhood coming to these days…
(With neighbours
like JW, one can only expect a lot of smooching going around...now that he has
finally found a girlfriend!)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author’s Note : Its not over yet, btw! But take this as the intermission…I will be back with the next update only in a day or two…
Lot of dhamaka still baaki...plus, JB are
going to hide their romance with hilarious consquences...and also Papa Walia
has also to make an entry! ;)
If some of you think that Bani let him off lightly...don't worry...he will have hell to face when he tries to romance his lady love...he better keep his testertone levels in check... :whistling Because for our Bani, loving is one thing...making love is completely a different ball game... ;)So till they get married...Jai can simply
cool his heels and seek contentment in being her Chaffauer!
Thanks to all the readers for the enthusiastic and regular feedback and comments…you guys really make all the hard work and broken back, swollen fingers, spondeletic neck, watery eyes…worth it! :ThumbsUp:
Jokes apart…I’ve been trying to pen something for the last so many weeks now, since my last FF on IF…but I realized that my creativity, if any, flows steadily only if there are my friends to read and respond on it! This forum is such a wonderful and fun place and writing this FF has been made easy by half because I knew I was writing for my Friends. :)
Love you all!
Jai drove back home in silence and after shoving off Bhavesh from the house, he went to his Bar and looked for something to drink. A stiff, neat whisky was what he needed…to get her out of his mind! Fumbling through the Bar with shaking fingers, he couldn’t find his preferred brand and suddenly, losing the temper that he had so vehemently controlled till now broke and taking the first bottle that came in his hand, he threw it on the ground with such force, it shattered into a thousand pieces all over the floor. Ravaged by grief and overcome by the complete loss of emotional and physical control, he took one bottle after another, smashing it down on the floor, hurting himself in the process, but not stopping till he found the one he was looking for.
Drenched to the bones by rain, wounded, tired, utterly dejected and heartbroken, he clamped his hands over the bottle and with a despondent, feeble smile, took it down with him till he reached the couch where he collapsed. Slowly opening the cork, he took a sip of the drink directly, the harsh liquid burning his throat, but he felt completely indifferent to the taste and just kept taking sips after sips, staring listelessly at the celing above.
Breaking the deathly silence of the room, the phone rang and Jai let it ring till it went on voice mail. It was his Father calling;
‘Ok, as I guessed…you must be out for the evening…I guess, now you will be out for all the evenings…(A jovial laughter followed) Just called to say that I am so happy for you and Bani…and that I wish you both a lifetime of happiness and love…bless you both my children! (Pausing for a moment) When you get my message, please call me back, both of you, I’ve to speak with my would be daughter-in-law about what an idiot my son has been…taking so long to come out with his feelings…and what a wonderful girl she was…to wait patiently and accept him back with such grace! Erm, Jai, I think the message counter is going to run out, so I’ll disconnect the call and please do anything, but don’t call me back, saying you still haven’t confessed to Bani…if that is so, consider I’ve disowned you for ever! (Chuckles) Bye…Love Dad!’
The answering machine went quiet and when the words had sunk in, Jai dropped the now half-empty bottle from his hand on the floor with a thud and broke down crying…burying his face in the palm of his hands…crying for all that could be and all that was now…crying because he realized all of a sudden, that in a span of just one day, he had lost not only the woman he loved, but also a friend he cared about…crying because, after all that pompous talk about respecting a woman’s dignity, he had ruthlessly ripped apart the dignity and respect of the woman he loved…crying because, he had taken so long to come around with his feelings for Bani and taken so short a time to disregard it all with such contempt…crying because, he recongnized all that he had said to her was nothing but a fabrication of his own insecure mind and all that he had left unsaid was the absolute truth…crying because in a carefully, thoughtout and well-planned bid to make her his own, he had foolishly and impulsively lost her forever…
Jai was so overcome by his anguish and misery that he lay listlessly on the couch, staring blankly at the ceiling till fatigue and intoxication overcame him and he fell asleep.
Bani had also fallen asleep, curling herself on the cold floor, shivering throughout the night, with only Mango’s wooly body giving her some warmth.
The chirping of sparrows on the Gulmohar Tree awoke her and she rubbed her eyes, getting up slowly…was yesterday a bad dream…did it really happen? Did Jai actually say all those things to her…she sat upright for some time, looking like a ghost and it was only Mango’s warm, wet lick on her skin that brought her to the present?
Looking at him, she gave a thin smile and patted him lovingly on his head…and then when she looked out of the window, she saw that yesterday’s thunderstorm had given way to a beautiful morning…it was still quite early, but she could sense, it would be a clear, sunny and warm day.
She got up slowly and washing herself, changed into a fresh set of clothes and when she came out of the bathroom, she noticed there was an envelope lying in the partially opened chest of drawers besides the Bed, and it had her name written on top of it. Opening it slowly, she was surprised to see a pair of keys enclosed in them, taking it in her hands; she looked at it, wondering who’s keys they were and how come they were in her room. And then she saw a letter alongside, it was from Jai;
‘Happy Birthday Bani!
So today you turn 21…wow…finally a big girl! Thanks for inviting me for the party…I’m sorry, I was so preoccupied in the morning…couldn’t pay attention to you…but hey, I made it to the party, alright!
I remember your saying that you cared for my presence more than any gift…that is really sweet of you and very strange too…considering how much you favored the diamond engagement ring over your Finace.
Jokes apart, while I was driving to your home from Office, I wondered what I could possibly gift you…and then suddenly, I saw a partially open shop and, Eureka! There it was, all gleaming and shiny in bright Red…and I knew this was it! This was the gift that I was going to get you!
The Shop was a Car Showroom, owned by a business acquanintance…he was extremely helpful and possibly quite mystified, when I told him that I wanted to buy a Car right now…the one that was on the display window…the chromium plated, Red Santro…he started asking me all sort of questions on how I would prefer to make the payment, when can the representative come for a demonstration, the Engine capacity, the Mileage, blah blah blah…
I told him to shut up, gave him my credit card (Which you would be thilled to know is an American Express Black…By invitation only!) and told him that I want the thing delivered at your doorsteps at the earliest.
But I didn’t know how you would react to it…or what your Mother might say…an Engagement ring is easy enough to hide from others…but a Car might prove to be a tad too difficult to hide, isn’t it? So, I called up Rano on the way to your house and gave her the whole deal! She was as usual, hyper excited and all giggly…gosh, you two are so meant to be sisters! She promised me that she will convince your Mother and not tell you anything till the Car arrived…(I highly doubt that promise, though…)
So, I parked my Car in front of your house, took out my writing pad and wrote this Ramayan that you are reading right now…and then I handed this letter to Rano and told her to give it to you only when the Car is parked in your Garage.
So if you have this letter in your hand and the grin is not fading away, then please take these keys and go rushing down to your Garage, where you’ll find your 21st Birthday Present, all red and shiny!
I know that you have learnt driving, but do not have the confidence to drive… let this gift be an inspiration for you…for your next birthday, I want you to drive us down to the best Restaurant in town for your Birthday Celebration!
Promise me that and I give you one year’s time to be India’s Micheal Schumaker!
Wishing you loads of happiness, health and…and…whatever your heart desires…
Yours,
Jai
Bani stood still with the pair of keys hanging in her frozen hands and the letter fell from her other hand. She kept standing there in a stupor, till Massi came in worringly and said, ‘Beta…uth gayi? Yeh le, Chai peele le…raat ko ro, ro kar, aadhi ho gayi…hua kyat tha?’
Clutching the keys with force, she ran downstairs, as Massi looked on shocked, holding the cup of Tea and calling out her name, and Mango ran excitedly behind her.
She stopped only when she came near their unused Garage, which had its shutters up and saw the gleaming Red Car parked there. A cream colored ribbon with a bunch of satin and lace flowers in the middle of the bow was tied on the bonnet. Filled with inexplicable fury and anguish, she went inside the Garage and opened the front door of the Car.
Taking a deep breath, she remembered the instructions that her driving instructor had told her and she roared the engine into life and backed the Car, bumping into a couple of flowerpots and almost knocking down a horrified Massi, before driving out of the Driveway.
Breaking every possible traffic rule on her way, Bani drove without stopping, all the way to Civil Lines, a good 25 kilometeres from her house. No one stopped her on the way, mostly because it was very early in the morning and there was hardly anyone on the road, except perhaps a stray dog which yelped and ran for its life when it saw the Car approaching. When Jai’s watchman saw a Red Car approaching with speed towards the gates, he opened them in terror, least it banged into him and she drove straight in and only brought it to a halt, when it finally banged against a concrete structure on Jai’s lawns.
She had never driven a Car all on her own before…and even when driving with someone else, she had been extremely nervous and scared and today, she drove without fear, without concern and without any trepidation…Jai’s harsh words rang in her ears and she wanted to give it back to him…and that anger had fuelled the impetuousness of driving all the way on her own.
Bani’s hands were trembling unshakeably when the Engine had been cut off and she realized that not only her hands, but she was shaking vigourously from head to toe. Composing herself, she pulled out the keys and opening the door, strode furiously towards the house.
The heavy oak door was partially open, Jai in his tragic, self-pitying state had left it open and when she walked in, her eyes swollen and red and her body shaking with rage, Jai still had his eyes closed and was lying limp on the couch. He looked like a ghost himself, the first few buttons of his crumpled white shirt undone, his hair in a mess, an undergrowth on his chin giving the effect of total misery and loss. Bani noticed the shattered glass spread all over the room.
‘Jai…get up!’ Bani’s voice came out low pitched and quivery, but it was enough to wake him up.
He stared at her as if in a dream and shaking his head said in a shocked manner, ‘Bani? Bani…’ He looked as if he was watching a mirage.
She gave him a piercing look and said, ‘It’s your nightmare come true, Jai…get up right now…I need to tell something to you now.’
He kept staring at her, blinking his eyes rapidly and then as if to confirm once more, said slowly, ‘Bani…?’
‘Yes…Bani! The same Bani whom you have labeled as manipulative, shrewd, cunning, wicked and what not.’ She yelled loudly.
Still shaking his head in disbelief, he kept staring at her, trying to balance himself on the couch, the hangover was very evident and his head felt all wooly and heavy.
She went on, clutching her fists tightly, her throat choked and her voice so hurt, that Jai could feel the physical pain, ‘The same Bani whom you have accused of not caring for other’s emotions…who plays with the feelings of others for her own entertainment…’
‘Wait…listen…’went on Jai feebly, his voice not carrying any strength or conviction, partially because of the hangover and partially because he was still shocked over seeing her.
‘The same Bani who has no character…no morals…no ethic and no standing in life…Yes, I am that Bani…’
Jai had got up on his feet with great difficult and was swaying unsteadily, but he managed to utter, ‘Listen to me…please…’
‘Why should I listen to you Jai? What is there to listen now? Do you have some more epithets listed for me? Do you have some more words in your mental thesaurus that you want to hurl at me?’
Mopping his head, he closed his eyes and drawing on all his will-power, took control over his state and said slowly, ‘I don’t know what happened to me yesterday…I just lost control…I…I went mad…Bani, I am sorry…I really am…’
‘Sorry…You think your saying that is going to help now? Sorry? For what?’ She had tears spilling from her eyes now and even though she tried her best to control them, it just didn’t stop in her eyes.
Jai looked on miserably, shocked, dazed and guilty as hell.
She had started crying by now, not able to hold on any more and said bitterly, ‘It takes you one day to propose marriage to me, one month to decide that you don’t want to marry me, two months to decide that you won’t mind having me as a friend instead of a wife, 7 months to finally become a friend, 8 months to discover that its more than just friendship that we share…’
He gaped at her dully and she continued, biting her lip, a fresh batch of tears welling in her lovely brown eyes and said slowly, dejectedly, ‘And just one instant …just one moment…to finish everything…!’
Jai stood still, feeling anesthetized …to see her in such a state was wounding enough…but to see her like this, because of him…he wished he had been dead, before he could have brought Bani to this.
She stood crying for some more time and then wiping her face with her hand, looked at him in fury and said, ‘Your gift is standing outside and here are the keys…’ and then taking of her Engagement ring with great difficulty, since it had become a snug fit, kept it on the coffee table, near which he was standing and said in the same trembling voice, ‘And here is your Engagement ring…that you had donated to me with such kindness …I don’t want anything from you, Jai…least of all your pity. Keep it all to yourself. I don’t want to see you ever again…’
Breaking down crying loudly again, she turned and walked away and then almost as an afterthought, turned to look at him with sad eyes and said, ‘It took you 10 months to realize that you actually hate me afterall…and it took me the same time to realize that…’
They kept standing in silence for some time, till she spoke, her voice barely a murmur, ‘that…I love you, Jai…’
Pausing for a while, her cheeks inflamed after the tears had dried up, she said regretfully, ‘At least that proves what you said a few months back…we are definitely not on the same frequency…’
And then suddenly getting furious again, she said angirly, ‘It doesn’t matter now anyway…I am beyond caring…’
She stormed off, caught between those still unshed tears, exhaustion, pain, anger, and despair.
Jai kept standing in a stupor…all that Bani had just said to him went right through his head…all that he had said to her yesterday all went flying by somewhere…all that he had seen and assumed of Nachiket and Bani went dissolving past…everything went blank…except those three words…
I love you, Jai…
She loved him…Oh My God…Bani loved him…She did…She loved him….
Jai ran his fingers through his tousled hair in complete shock and then shaking himself up, ran outside, Bani was almost near the gate and he yelled at the top of his voice, ‘BANI…WAIT…BANI…I AM SORRY…BANI…PLEASE FORGIVE ME…’
She stopped to look at him, and so did the Guard, Bhavesh, his wife, their three kids, the Gardner, the Under Gardner, the Vegetable Vendor, the Milkman, Jai’s retired Army Colonel Neighbour who was watering his garden, his wife, son, daughter-in-law and their son who were outside, having Tea.
When she turned to look at him, he buckled down on his knees on the lawn and spreading his hands, holding the Engagement finger in one hand, said loudly enough for everyone to stare at him, ‘I LOVE YOU BANI…’
She kept standing, shocked and the Colonel, his wife, his son, daughter-in-law and their son all came near the common wall dividing both the farmhouses and saw the early morning spectacle…Jai Walia, the supersnob who hardly greeted them, in such a state of romoehood…not to be missed!
She got red in her face and yelled back, ‘I don’t give a damn for your dramatics…go to hell!’
The Colonel gave thumbs up to her, only to be admonished sternly by his wife, who had a soft-corner for Jai.
‘Bani…wait…please…Bani…don’t leave me…’ he pleaded, trying to catch his breath.
He ran fast enough to catch up with her and breathing heavily, caught hold of her shoulders and swerved her to face him, gazed into her eyes, breaking into a thin smile, ‘Wait…before you go…tell Rano…tell her that I took her Dare and lost the game…’
‘Whaaaat?’
His smile became more confident and not taking his eyes off her, Jai said slowly, ‘Tell her I lost it…because it was just a game…and that what I am saying now is the only truth of my life…the reason of my existence.’
She stared at him with mixed reaction and looking deeply into her eyes, he said, ‘I love you Bani.’ Unadorned, unpretentious and completely honest.
Without a single word more between them, he lifted her up in his arms, and carried her towards the parked Car. As she recovered from the shock, she hollered out in angry protest, but placing her gently on the bonnet of the Car, he took her head into his hands and digging his fingers deeply inside her still wet hair, covered her parted lips with his mouth. Shivering uncontrollably, she tried to push him in protest, but he deepened the passionate embrace and did not let her free, till she gave up fighting and just lay on the Car, caught in his warm, hold. Without lifting his face off hers, he slipped the Ring back into her Engagement finger…
When he finally let her go, he stared at her brick-red face and swollen lips and with a roguish twinkle in his eyes said, ‘Now tell me, are we on the same frequency or not?’ :heartbeats:
She kept staring at him, then at the ring which was back again where it belonged and then back at him, her eyes still showing traces of anger and then she noticed his eyes…they were full to the brim with love and adoration and she broke out laughing in between her tears, joined in by him and they hugged one another firmly, never to let go again!
A huge round of applause broke out, with only the Colonel sulking and commenting on the state of their neighbourhood coming to these days…
(With neighbours
like JW, one can only expect a lot of smooching going around...now that he has
finally found a girlfriend!)-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author’s Note : Its not over yet, btw! But take this as the intermission…I will be back with the next update only in a day or two…
Lot of dhamaka still baaki...plus, JB are
going to hide their romance with hilarious consquences...and also Papa Walia
has also to make an entry! ;)If some of you think that Bani let him off lightly...don't worry...he will have hell to face when he tries to romance his lady love...he better keep his testertone levels in check... :whistling Because for our Bani, loving is one thing...making love is completely a different ball game... ;)
So till they get married...Jai can simply
cool his heels and seek contentment in being her Chaffauer! Thanks to all the readers for the enthusiastic and regular feedback and comments…you guys really make all the hard work and broken back, swollen fingers, spondeletic neck, watery eyes…worth it! :ThumbsUp:
Jokes apart…I’ve been trying to pen something for the last so many weeks now, since my last FF on IF…but I realized that my creativity, if any, flows steadily only if there are my friends to read and respond on it! This forum is such a wonderful and fun place and writing this FF has been made easy by half because I knew I was writing for my Friends. :)
Love you all!
Part 14
They were now cosily inside the confines of his house and Jai looked romantically into her eyes and said, ‘Bani…I told you what was in my heart…now you tell me what is in yours?’
She blushed and taking his eyes off him, said shyly, ‘You really want to know?’
Jai nodded and said huskily, ‘More than anything else…’
‘Brush your teeth, take a bath and wear a fresh set of clothes!’ She looked at him and declared with all seriousness.
‘WHAT?’
She nodded her head and pushed him towards his room, laughing!
‘Hey…this is all you have to say? I went on my knees and declared my love for you, in full view…and this is your response?’
‘Be thankful, I allowed you that kiss…as an exception! I don’t even talk to people who don’t maintain dental hygine…’
‘I was drunk…hurt…tried…wet…cold…sloshed…and never in my wildest dreams, did I expect you to land up this morning! Else, I would have brushed and flossed my teeth, taken a bubble bath and put on my best clothes…to kiss you!’
She laughed delightedly and ignoring his protests, sent him packing to the bathroom.
Later she along with a much grinning Bhavesh and his wife cleaned up the room, which Jai had littered with glass shards the last night.
When Jai came out, running his hand through his neatly combed, freshly washed hair, dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a white and blue cotton shirt, he smiled at her direction; she was laying down his breakfast and in between nibbling some cereal from his bowl.
‘Breakfast!’ she announced and looked at him…the smile in his eyes made her blush furiously and she choked a bit on the piece of dried berry that got lodged in her throat.
He poured some milk into the Cereal bowl and taking it in his hands, sat on the edge of the Dining Table, with one leg on the chair and hanging freely.
‘Where are your manners, Mr. Walia?’
He kept that mysterious smile on his face and continued eating the Cereals.
She felt herself going red and said abruptly, ‘Stop staring at me…’
‘Its too late for that…I’ve got the authority to officially stare at you…or leer or at you…or ogle at you….anything!’
She giggled and hit him gently on his arms.
‘I never knew you could drive this well and you never told me that you had a Driver’s Licence!’ He said casually, taking a sip of Coffee that she had poured out for him.
‘Driver’s Licence? I don’t have one!’
The hot liquid that he had just consumed almost got spilled out and he goggled at her with wide eyes and said, ‘Then…Then how come you drove till here…’
She looked at him and keeping her hands on her hips said, ‘I wanted to wrangle your neck with both of my hands…and that gave me the inspiration to drive till here…’
He looked even more taken aback and said slowly, ‘Okaaaaay…But you have your driven this far before?’
She shrugged her head casually and said, ‘No. I’ve never even driven on my own till today morning…but I was so furious, so upset…that I just sat in the Car, started the Engine and kept driving till I reached here…’
And then with an aftethougth added, ‘Thank god, it was early morning and there was no traffic…because I can only start and drive the Car, not stop it!’
Jai’s face looked pale and he said in the same tone, ‘Then how did you park the Car in my lawn?’
She took a bit of an Apple and munching it with relish, said offhandedly, ‘I didn’t park…it just banged against something and stopped on its own!’
‘Banged against something?’
‘Ya…some block of concrete or something…I don’t know…but it stopped on its own!’
Jai waited for a while and leaving the cup of coffee on the table, rushed towards the Verandah and saw where the Car was standing…beneath a block of concrete as Bani has put it so casually!
Holding his head with his hand he let out a yell, ‘Bani…you nut case! That was not concrete…that was my Dad’s favorite porceline statuette…he had got it imported specially from Italy…Oh My God…he is going to kill me!’
She looked terrified and clutching the apple, came following him to the Verandah and saw the three distinctly broken pieces of the Statuette lying merrily on the lawns.
‘Oh…Oh…I am so sorry Jai…Oh God…I am so stupid…’ her eyes had welled with tears and Jai looked at her and said hastily, ‘Don’t cry…please don’t cry…break as many things as you want to…but don’t cry, Bani!’
She had started sobbing by now and Jai took her into his arms consoling her and telling her that he will try and put the thing together and his Dad might never even come to know of it!
When Bhavesh’s wife had given her the third Ghobhi Parantha, made from the freshly procured Ghobhi grown in Jai’s farmhouse, she looked much better and Jai said, ‘Sweetie…I’ve to leave for Office!’
‘Today is Saturday!’
‘Ya…but I’ve work to finish…you stay back here, get Bhavesh’s woman to make food for you…she is a great cook…and see if you can find something else to break in my house!’ he laughed looking at her expression!
‘Yes, you can talk about breaking things isn’t it…after all you have an expertise in breaking hearts as well as bottles.’ She huffed and crossed her hands.
A moist expression came into his eyes and touching her cheeks with his palms, he said, ‘I am really sorry for all that I said yesterday, Bani…god knows, I’ll never forgive myself for it…’
She looked at him tenderly and keeping her hand over his said, ‘There are no apologies in love Jai, just acceptance…’
They kept looking at one another; till Bhavesh’s wife came to serve Bani another round of Ghobhi Parantha and blushing deeply, Bani looked elsewhere, from Jai’s sight.
He put on his shades and walked alongwith Bani till his Car and looking at the broken fragments of the Porceline Statueete, he winced to himself…Dad was so not going to be thrilled with this!
Jai looked at her and said, ‘I’ll try to be back by noon…let’s go out for Lunch and then anywhere you want to…’
She smiled at him and said, ‘Lunch? I’ve to go home right now…Ma and Di will be back anytime…’
‘Oh! But how will you get back? My driver is also not here…’
‘I’ll drive back…’ and then with a smug expression, she added, ‘Now I’ve a Car of my own too…’
He gave her a saradonic look and said, ‘If you think I’m going to let you drive all the way back, without a Driver’s Licence, you are so wrong! Plus, it needs to get to the Service Station immediately…’
She looked sorrowfully at her beautiful, red Car, dented from the side and he cheered her up by saying, ‘It’s alright…even with the dent it looks beautiful…we made out for the first time on it, afterall!’
She blushed and giggled and when she saw Jai’s neibhour peering from the other side of the wall, she pointed him out to Jai.
Jai looked at him and said curtly, ‘Morning Colonel Bakshi!’
Colonel Bakshi looked suitably embarrassed at having been caught peeping and getting a blustery attitude said pompously, ‘Mr. Walia…I am going to raise this issue in the next RWA?’
Jai looked at him enquiringly and said, ‘Raise what issue? And what the hell is RWA?’
Colonel Bakshi looking even more bloated and pompous said, ‘RWA is Resident Welfare Association and I am the honorary secretary there. And the issue I’m going to raise is of nefarious early morning activities going on in our neibhourhood…we are all family people here, Mr. Walia.’
Bani looked ashamed and bent her head down in embarrassment, but Jai just gave him a cold look and said in a cutting tone, ‘Delightful to know how you keep yourself busy these days, Colonel Bakshi. And I would be even delighted to know what the RWA has to say about the issue of nefarious late night activities going on in our neibhourhood…and I might not be a family man now, but will be soon!’
Colonel Bakshi spluttered indignantly, ‘What do you mean, Mr. Walia?’
Jai opened the door of his Car and putting his jacket on the side seat, gave a short smile at his neighbour and said, ‘My man servant informs me the howling sound that disturbs my sleep every night is not from a stray dog but its actually the Honorary Secretary of our RWA who gets drunk on the terrace every night and bleats out for the whole world to hear!’
Bhavesh who had been standing near Jai’s car with his Snack-box, spluttered with laughter and so did the Watchman and even though Bani tried her best to appear all docile and apologetic, broke out into fits of giggles.
Colonel Bakshi looked as if he would explode with embarssment and anger any moment and then getting the ‘I mean business’ look on Jai’s face said abruptly, addressing Bani, ‘And may I congratulate you on your good fortune, lovely lady…all the best from the Mrs. and me to both of you!’
Before climbing off the wall and slipping away unnoticed, he added genially to Jai, ‘Don’t forget to send the invitation, Mr. Walia…Ha Ha!’
Jai muttered some curses under his breath, while Bani, Bhavesh and the Watchman could hardly contain their giggles.
As he bent towards Bani to kiss her, she reddened a bit and said quickly, ‘No…Not in front of everyone…’
He looked surprised and smiling at her said, ‘I was going to kiss you on your cheeks…’
‘Oh!’ She went really red this time and he laughed at her expression, patting her head and driving off, before instructing Bhavesh to call a Cab for her and get the Red Car to the Service Station.
Bhavesh’s wife didn’t let Bani leave till she had consumed some more of the delicious Ghobhi Paranta and by the time she reached home, Massi was in a state of derilium along with Mango who pounced upon Bani when she reached the gates.
Author's Note : This update just goes to prove how little I have to do in my life...I told you guys that I will be back with another update only in a day or two...but I ended up writing till Part 16 all in one go...
Filhal ise pado, let me go and edit Part 15 and 16....Part 17 and 18 will see Pooch and Senior Walia ki dhamaakedaar entry... ;)
Thank you all for the response.....I am so enjoying writing here...
They were now cosily inside the confines of his house and Jai looked romantically into her eyes and said, ‘Bani…I told you what was in my heart…now you tell me what is in yours?’
She blushed and taking his eyes off him, said shyly, ‘You really want to know?’
Jai nodded and said huskily, ‘More than anything else…’
‘Brush your teeth, take a bath and wear a fresh set of clothes!’ She looked at him and declared with all seriousness.
‘WHAT?’
She nodded her head and pushed him towards his room, laughing!
‘Hey…this is all you have to say? I went on my knees and declared my love for you, in full view…and this is your response?’
‘Be thankful, I allowed you that kiss…as an exception! I don’t even talk to people who don’t maintain dental hygine…’
‘I was drunk…hurt…tried…wet…cold…sloshed…and never in my wildest dreams, did I expect you to land up this morning! Else, I would have brushed and flossed my teeth, taken a bubble bath and put on my best clothes…to kiss you!’
She laughed delightedly and ignoring his protests, sent him packing to the bathroom.
Later she along with a much grinning Bhavesh and his wife cleaned up the room, which Jai had littered with glass shards the last night.
When Jai came out, running his hand through his neatly combed, freshly washed hair, dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a white and blue cotton shirt, he smiled at her direction; she was laying down his breakfast and in between nibbling some cereal from his bowl.
‘Breakfast!’ she announced and looked at him…the smile in his eyes made her blush furiously and she choked a bit on the piece of dried berry that got lodged in her throat.
He poured some milk into the Cereal bowl and taking it in his hands, sat on the edge of the Dining Table, with one leg on the chair and hanging freely.
‘Where are your manners, Mr. Walia?’
He kept that mysterious smile on his face and continued eating the Cereals.
She felt herself going red and said abruptly, ‘Stop staring at me…’
‘Its too late for that…I’ve got the authority to officially stare at you…or leer or at you…or ogle at you….anything!’
She giggled and hit him gently on his arms.
‘I never knew you could drive this well and you never told me that you had a Driver’s Licence!’ He said casually, taking a sip of Coffee that she had poured out for him.
‘Driver’s Licence? I don’t have one!’
The hot liquid that he had just consumed almost got spilled out and he goggled at her with wide eyes and said, ‘Then…Then how come you drove till here…’
She looked at him and keeping her hands on her hips said, ‘I wanted to wrangle your neck with both of my hands…and that gave me the inspiration to drive till here…’
He looked even more taken aback and said slowly, ‘Okaaaaay…But you have your driven this far before?’
She shrugged her head casually and said, ‘No. I’ve never even driven on my own till today morning…but I was so furious, so upset…that I just sat in the Car, started the Engine and kept driving till I reached here…’
And then with an aftethougth added, ‘Thank god, it was early morning and there was no traffic…because I can only start and drive the Car, not stop it!’
Jai’s face looked pale and he said in the same tone, ‘Then how did you park the Car in my lawn?’
She took a bit of an Apple and munching it with relish, said offhandedly, ‘I didn’t park…it just banged against something and stopped on its own!’
‘Banged against something?’
‘Ya…some block of concrete or something…I don’t know…but it stopped on its own!’
Jai waited for a while and leaving the cup of coffee on the table, rushed towards the Verandah and saw where the Car was standing…beneath a block of concrete as Bani has put it so casually!
Holding his head with his hand he let out a yell, ‘Bani…you nut case! That was not concrete…that was my Dad’s favorite porceline statuette…he had got it imported specially from Italy…Oh My God…he is going to kill me!’
She looked terrified and clutching the apple, came following him to the Verandah and saw the three distinctly broken pieces of the Statuette lying merrily on the lawns.
‘Oh…Oh…I am so sorry Jai…Oh God…I am so stupid…’ her eyes had welled with tears and Jai looked at her and said hastily, ‘Don’t cry…please don’t cry…break as many things as you want to…but don’t cry, Bani!’
She had started sobbing by now and Jai took her into his arms consoling her and telling her that he will try and put the thing together and his Dad might never even come to know of it!
When Bhavesh’s wife had given her the third Ghobhi Parantha, made from the freshly procured Ghobhi grown in Jai’s farmhouse, she looked much better and Jai said, ‘Sweetie…I’ve to leave for Office!’
‘Today is Saturday!’
‘Ya…but I’ve work to finish…you stay back here, get Bhavesh’s woman to make food for you…she is a great cook…and see if you can find something else to break in my house!’ he laughed looking at her expression!
‘Yes, you can talk about breaking things isn’t it…after all you have an expertise in breaking hearts as well as bottles.’ She huffed and crossed her hands.
A moist expression came into his eyes and touching her cheeks with his palms, he said, ‘I am really sorry for all that I said yesterday, Bani…god knows, I’ll never forgive myself for it…’
She looked at him tenderly and keeping her hand over his said, ‘There are no apologies in love Jai, just acceptance…’
They kept looking at one another; till Bhavesh’s wife came to serve Bani another round of Ghobhi Parantha and blushing deeply, Bani looked elsewhere, from Jai’s sight.
He put on his shades and walked alongwith Bani till his Car and looking at the broken fragments of the Porceline Statueete, he winced to himself…Dad was so not going to be thrilled with this!
Jai looked at her and said, ‘I’ll try to be back by noon…let’s go out for Lunch and then anywhere you want to…’
She smiled at him and said, ‘Lunch? I’ve to go home right now…Ma and Di will be back anytime…’
‘Oh! But how will you get back? My driver is also not here…’
‘I’ll drive back…’ and then with a smug expression, she added, ‘Now I’ve a Car of my own too…’
He gave her a saradonic look and said, ‘If you think I’m going to let you drive all the way back, without a Driver’s Licence, you are so wrong! Plus, it needs to get to the Service Station immediately…’
She looked sorrowfully at her beautiful, red Car, dented from the side and he cheered her up by saying, ‘It’s alright…even with the dent it looks beautiful…we made out for the first time on it, afterall!’
She blushed and giggled and when she saw Jai’s neibhour peering from the other side of the wall, she pointed him out to Jai.
Jai looked at him and said curtly, ‘Morning Colonel Bakshi!’
Colonel Bakshi looked suitably embarrassed at having been caught peeping and getting a blustery attitude said pompously, ‘Mr. Walia…I am going to raise this issue in the next RWA?’
Jai looked at him enquiringly and said, ‘Raise what issue? And what the hell is RWA?’
Colonel Bakshi looking even more bloated and pompous said, ‘RWA is Resident Welfare Association and I am the honorary secretary there. And the issue I’m going to raise is of nefarious early morning activities going on in our neibhourhood…we are all family people here, Mr. Walia.’
Bani looked ashamed and bent her head down in embarrassment, but Jai just gave him a cold look and said in a cutting tone, ‘Delightful to know how you keep yourself busy these days, Colonel Bakshi. And I would be even delighted to know what the RWA has to say about the issue of nefarious late night activities going on in our neibhourhood…and I might not be a family man now, but will be soon!’
Colonel Bakshi spluttered indignantly, ‘What do you mean, Mr. Walia?’
Jai opened the door of his Car and putting his jacket on the side seat, gave a short smile at his neighbour and said, ‘My man servant informs me the howling sound that disturbs my sleep every night is not from a stray dog but its actually the Honorary Secretary of our RWA who gets drunk on the terrace every night and bleats out for the whole world to hear!’
Bhavesh who had been standing near Jai’s car with his Snack-box, spluttered with laughter and so did the Watchman and even though Bani tried her best to appear all docile and apologetic, broke out into fits of giggles.
Colonel Bakshi looked as if he would explode with embarssment and anger any moment and then getting the ‘I mean business’ look on Jai’s face said abruptly, addressing Bani, ‘And may I congratulate you on your good fortune, lovely lady…all the best from the Mrs. and me to both of you!’
Before climbing off the wall and slipping away unnoticed, he added genially to Jai, ‘Don’t forget to send the invitation, Mr. Walia…Ha Ha!’
Jai muttered some curses under his breath, while Bani, Bhavesh and the Watchman could hardly contain their giggles.
As he bent towards Bani to kiss her, she reddened a bit and said quickly, ‘No…Not in front of everyone…’
He looked surprised and smiling at her said, ‘I was going to kiss you on your cheeks…’
‘Oh!’ She went really red this time and he laughed at her expression, patting her head and driving off, before instructing Bhavesh to call a Cab for her and get the Red Car to the Service Station.
Bhavesh’s wife didn’t let Bani leave till she had consumed some more of the delicious Ghobhi Paranta and by the time she reached home, Massi was in a state of derilium along with Mango who pounced upon Bani when she reached the gates.
Author's Note : This update just goes to prove how little I have to do in my life...I told you guys that I will be back with another update only in a day or two...but I ended up writing till Part 16 all in one go...
Filhal ise pado, let me go and edit Part 15 and 16....Part 17 and 18 will see Pooch and Senior Walia ki dhamaakedaar entry... ;)
Thank you all for the response.....I am so enjoying writing here...
Part 15
Bani was overcome with guilt when she looked at Massi sitting helplessly on the steps, wiping away her tears with the corner of her Sari.
‘Oooh, Massi….Sorry…’ She went and leapt into her Nanny’s arms and cajoled the old lady till she dried her tears. Massi was very upset but also relieved to know that Bani was okay now and she looked so much better than she had last night and then again today morning. After getting a lot of scolding from Massi, Bani sheepishly sat down to have a cup of Tea, even though her tummy felt ready to explode, but she didn’t have the courage or the heart to refuse Massi anything, not after the way she had been behaving since yesterday night.
Bani had to come up with a long winded excuse for all that happened and Massi being the gullible sort fell for it like every time!
Bani consumed some sandwich that Massi had made with great difficulty and almost threw it up when Massi said in a despondent manner, ‘Mujhe itni fikar hui teri…kal poori raat roti rahi…aur phir subah, kuch bataye bina, woh nayi gaadi mein baith kar chali gayi…mujhe laga pata nahin kya ho jaayega…Kiran aur Rano bhi ghar par nahin hain…toh maine Nachiket ko phone par sab bata diya…’
‘What? Massi….’ Shrieked Bani in horror and putting her hand on her forehead said, ‘Kya bataya use?’
Massi said surprised at her reaction, ‘Yahi ki raat ko tu sadak par baith kar ro rahi thi…aur phir raat bhar roti rahi…aur subah kahin uth kar chali gayi…who raste mein hai…yahin aa raha hoga…’
‘Oh My God…Oh My God…’ wailed Bani in despair, flinging her hands, thinking of something plausible to come up with when Nachiket landed here.
She did not want to tell anyone about Jai and herself right now…it was too complicated to explain…Rano was getting married in the next 5 days or so…Nachiket had gotten back with Purva just now…her whole house would be teeming with relatives by tomorrow…and Jai had mentioned something about his Father coming to India around this time…on top of that if she told them about Jai and herself, it would be…it would be too unsettling…and besides, it was Rano’s day…she was getting married and by talking about her love story with Jai (which Bani personally felt was far more interesting and romantic than Rano and Ranveer’s!) she would be stealing her sister’s thunder…only Rano deserved to be centre of attention now…till she got married and then maybe, Bani and Jai could very gracefully and very nicely, put across their renewed engagement in front of everyone.
Caught in between her thoughts, she did not see Nachiket literally banging inside the house, panting heavily and looking petrified.
‘Bani…’ he yelled out when he saw her!
She smiled sheepishly and waved at him, ‘Yep…I’m back…sorry for the emergency call that Massi made…she must have been scared!’
He stood still, taking in his breath and then said, ‘Scared? Of course she was…and so was I! Where the hell did you vanish in the morning? And why on earth were you crying whole of yesterday night…Massi told me she found you in sitting on the road, in the rain…’
Bani swallowed, thinking of something plausible that she could come up with.
He kept staring at her and then suddenly he said, ‘Jai…wasn’t he supposed to drop you home yesterday evening? You went off in his Car, right? No…actually, he dragged you into his Car…’
Bani nodded her head, scratching her brain more for something to say.
Nachiket waited for some time, pondering on the awkward scene that had taken place yesterday at his Flat and then with a slow voice said, ‘He fought with you, isn’t it? He saw you at my flat and assumed that we were having a scene and that is why all that cryptic talk that went on…and then he dragged you in anger…’
‘Yesss…he did take me along with him…’ said Bani hesitant.
Nachiket’s face was red with anger and he continued, ‘And then he must have accused you of all that nasty things that I had once accused Purva off…oh…and then left you to die in the middle of the road…in the rain, that too…at night…Ooh, that creep…’ he folded his fist in anger.
Bani gulped and said, ‘Nachiket…cool down…please…he did not leave me to die or anything…he dropped me right in front of my house…and yes, we did have a sort of…argument…but it’s okay now.’
‘Okay? Okay?’ Nachiket yelled, looking extremely furious and prancing up and down the room, ‘No, it’s not okay Bani…what the hell does he think he is? Wait till I tell Kiran aunty about this…she will ban that jerk’s entry into this house.’
Bani looked completely petrified and coming near him said hastily, ‘No…No…No…please don’t tell Ma about this…Please Nachiket…’
‘Why? She trusted him enough to come and go out of this house even after he broke the engagement…and look at how he pays it off…accusing you…hurting you…hitting you...leaving you to die…’
‘Nachiket…stop being so dramatic…he did not hit me and he certainly did not leave me to die!’
‘But he did all those other things, right?’
Bani gave an exasperated sigh and said, ‘See, if you say anything to Ma, she will be very upset…she adores him…he is Uday Uncle’s son…and besides, its Rano di’s wedding…let’s not spoil the atmosphere…’ her voice ended on a pleading note.
Nachiket still looked furious and stomping his feet said, ‘Okay…fine! But once Rano gets married, I’ll go and bash up that Walia’s teeth and bones for hurting you!’
Bani rolled her eyes and trying very hard to get a serious look said, ‘Of course…of course…ELMO beating the daylights out of The Incredible Hulk will be a sight, and I wouldn’t want to miss!’ ;) :tong:
‘He is Hulk and I am Elmo?’ yelped Nachiket sulking and offended!
‘I am just joking, Natty…now come on, have this sandwich that Massi made…Ma and Di will be arriving any time now!’
When Bani had settled down Nachiket with the sandwich and changed the course of the conversation with great difficulty, she was delighted to know that Purva and Nachiket had worked things out and they were together!
Nachiket looked guilty and sorrowful about the fact that everyone whom Bani knew was a couple while she was single…and on top of that, nursing a broken heart. Before he could once again launch his tirade against Jai, she made some soothing noises and diverted his attention towards Purva and their plans for future.
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Kiran and Rano arrived, flushed after the tiresome journey but thrilled with all the additional wedding purchases and after they had shown everything to Bani and Nachiket, Rano went out and looked around the Garage.
Coming back inside, she called Bani to a corner and said hesitatingly, ‘Er…Bani…the Garage…Um…did you get a letter and a pair of keys in our room? I left it for you before going off for Jaipur.’
Bani felt her cheeks going pink, but controlling her laughter and delight at how things had turned out, she said sorrowfully, ‘Yes…I did…and I returned them to the owner.’
Rano looked crestfallen and said, ‘Oh! But…I thought…I thought you would be elated to find the Car…Jai had planned it out so nicely…and I so wanted to read that letter…’
Keeping the same dejected expression on her face, she heaved a dramatic sigh and said, ‘We had a fight!’
Before Rano could ask further questions, Nachiket came bouncing in and in spite of Banis’ many remonstrations, gave a very hyper, lengthy and imaginative account of yesterday evening, adding many bits and pieces of his own and basically turning Jai from The Incredible Hulk to Hellboy III!
Bani wanted to hit Nachiket on his head but she knew if she opened her mouth in defense of Jai, she would have to spill the beans…so she kept that look on her face of utter misery and when Nachiket had finished, Rano was fuming with anger.
‘My god….that man! I am so happy you returned that stupid, red car of his, Bani…Grrr…Wait till I see him…Ooh, he is making me so mad…how dare he hurt you like this!’
Bani looked from her sister’s angry face to Nachiket’s fuming one, and she was caught between a desire to laugh out loudly and cry in desperation at the same time. She hated keeping secrets…and this was the biggest secret she had ever kept to herself…that Jai and Bani were a couple…very much in love!
Composing Rano and making her promise like Nachiket, that they won’t utter a word to Kiran about it, Bani felt she had the situation under control. Nachiket, she knew, could only talk a lot, but when it came to doing anything, was quite the opposite and there was a better chance of finding an alien in their garden than Nachiket ever hitting Jai!
And Rano would probably forget her anger, once the wedding got underway.
But Bani had miscalculated, her best friend and sister’s love and loyalty towards her!
When she had gone, Rano said to Nachiket, ‘My poor baby…no one…no one in our house has even spoken to her in a loud voice till date…and that guy; he had the guts to hit her head with a hammer?’
Nachiket gulped a bit, wondering whether he had exaggerated his knowledge of what had taken place between Jai and Bani a bit too much. (Yeh pitega...JW se, Bani se aur Rano se bhi...)
‘I…er…Rano, I am not sure, if it was a hammer…it might have been a tong or something,’ he spoke, sounding unsure.
‘Tong? Whatever be it! But the gall of him to hurt my sister…My sister! What does he think he is? Getting engaged when he feels like, breaking it off when he feels like, taking her out on dates when he feels like, leaving her to die on the road, when he feels like…’
Nachiket took another gulp and said, ‘I…er…Rano, I’m not sure, if he actually left her on the road to die…he might have just left her near the house…,’ sounding really unsure now. (Zaroor pitega...chawal ki kichdi bana kar paros raha hain...)
‘Whatever! But we will take revenge! Oh boy, will we! If he thinks, that there is no one to care for Bani and that he can hit her head with a hammer and leave her to die on the road, has he got it wrong or what!’
Nachiket felt it would be better to not say anything at the moment, looking at Rano’s general state of agitation.
Catching hold of Nachiket by his collar, she said in a excited high pitch, her eyes shining, ‘We will find someone else for Bani…yes…that is it!’
‘Someone else?’
Rano said determinedly, ‘Yes, someone else…who can make Jai Walia go green with envy…we will set up Bani with the hottest guy on this planet and then he can come to the wedding and watch them both and rot in his personal agony!’
Nachiket gave a strange look at Rano and said, ‘You know…I think all that wedding preparations has been taking a toll on you…’
Cutting him off, she went on excited, ‘That way, we will solve two purposes…get our revenge on Jai Walia and also start a new romance for Bani!’
Nachiket did not look very sure of the idea, but Rano looked radiant with her brainwave and said, ‘Yes…that will be my parting gift to Bani…my sister…I’ll find her a boyfriend…Nachiket…are you with me on this?’
Pausing for a moment he said, ‘Are you sure Rano…’
Catching hold of his collar again, she said, ‘Nachiket…that is your friend we are talking about…Bani…don’t you want to avenge her insult…don’t you want to punish the guy who broke her heart…don’t you want to see him all miserable and lonely, when she is with some other guy…you owe this to her, Nachiket!’
‘Okay…Okay…Fine. I am with you! Lets get started on this right now…the marriage is in 5 days and we have just this much time to find someone for Bani…so that Jai Walia can see with his own eyes what he has lost, when he comes for the wedding!’
They both did a hi-five and started scouring possibilities for prospective boyfriends and soul mates they could find for Bani.
‘Jai is s**y…so we have to get someone who is s**ier than him…what do you think about Brad Pitt?’ Rano asked with all seriousness, sharing a cup of tea with Nachiket, as they plunked themselves away from Bani’s view.
‘Brad Pitt? Nice suggestion Rano…but I don’t think Angelina and their half a dozen kids will let him go so easily…’
‘Oh…then what about someone from India? Like…Um…Shah Rukh Khan?’
‘Nah…he shoots for about 300 days in a year and smokes like a chimney…you know how Bani is allergic to smoke…’ (Yeah, like SRK is waiting for Bani to fall in love with him...)
Rano said wisely, ‘Ya…good point! That might become an issue between them…what about Amartya Sen…he is intellectual…teaches abroad…and hey, he has a Nobel to boot!’
‘Are we looking for a substitute grandparent or a boyfriend?’
‘Oh! Sorry, I got carried away…’
Before they could continue their meaningful research, Bani called them both inside for lunch.
Aditya had come back from Bangalore and after giving a sounding off to Nachiket for hanging around the Dixit House instead of working at the gallery, took off with him for work, promising Rano and Bani that he will be back in the evening.
‘What the hell were you and Nachiket gossiping like old ladies in the garden today?’ asked Bani, when they retired for the night.
Rano looked at her sister and said excitedly, ‘We are both on a mission!’
‘A what?’
‘A mission…to find you the perfect man…’
‘Why? Mind your own business!’ said Bani, irritated and amused.
‘No, we won’t! I know that behind your glowing, happy face is a shattered heart…and that you are lonely and sad…all because of that man…’
‘Oh god, Di…please, will you stop it! I’ve no issues with Jai…’
Drowning her protest, Rano went on, ‘Obviously you don’t…you have a forgiving, kind, gentle heart Bani…you are not like that…that man…’
At the tether end of her patience and desperately wanting Rano to sleep, so that she could sneak downstairs and call up Jai, she said, ‘Stop addressing him as “that man” and really, Di…stop getting so agitated over…’
Rano again cut her short and said lovingly, ‘You are a saint, Bani…you really are…look at you…even after he hit you with a hammer and left you to die on the road…you are not one bit avenging towards that man…’
‘What?’ yelled Bani in shock and continued ‘Hit me with a hammer and left me to die on the road…who has been telling you all this crap? And stop calling him “that man”!’
Rano refused to see reason and kept abusing poor Jai, addressing him as “that man” again and again and insisting on finding a partner for Bani before the marriage took place. Bani got so fed up, that she just took her pillow and duvet and stomped downstairs in irritation and went to sleep with Mango on the Couch.
To be continued...
Preview for Part 16 :
Bani went and sat down on the wooden swing in her garden! And with a sharp pang, remembered Jai sitting on it alongside her on her Birthday! And missed him so much, she felt like hitting the swing on her head, out of agony!
Everyone and everything was getting on her nerves, the unending work that her mother kept piling on her, Rano’s blood-pressure inducing sympathy talk and her reference to Jai as “that man” all the time, Aditya Chachu’s extremely silly jokes that he chose to tell at the most inopportune moments, Massi’s fussing over her with food all the time, Nachiket’s hyper-excited claims to punch Jai on his face the day he came in front of him, her idiotic cousin Saahil’s deathly shaayari’s which he chose to bombard on Bani anytime he saw her, cousin Meera’s hyena-type laughter echoing all around the house…
And all she wanted was to see Jai…desperately…see his eyes twinkling mischievously at her direction, see his mysterious smile that made her heart skip a beat or two…feel his fingers brushing against her skin that made her spine tingle…hear him sing his favorite song for her tunelessly, to lick his fingers when he put something in her mouth to eat…to laugh delightedly at his humor and wit…to fall on his chest and stay in his arms forever…
God, was love a tiresome business or not!
Never had she felt like this before…never had she felt such exhalation and such depression at the same moment…never had she felt so drifted and grounded at the same time…she felt like she was the smallest speck in the Universe and suddenly she felt like she was larger than life itself…
She never knew when she had fallen in love with Jai…probably she skipped that process and when she knew…she was in love with him! She had done nothing to fall in love with him, but when it happened, there was nothing she could do to stop herself.
When we fall in love, it proves just how powerful Nature is…just how powerful God is…and just how powerless we are in front of this most magical of all emotions.
Bani was overcome with guilt when she looked at Massi sitting helplessly on the steps, wiping away her tears with the corner of her Sari.
‘Oooh, Massi….Sorry…’ She went and leapt into her Nanny’s arms and cajoled the old lady till she dried her tears. Massi was very upset but also relieved to know that Bani was okay now and she looked so much better than she had last night and then again today morning. After getting a lot of scolding from Massi, Bani sheepishly sat down to have a cup of Tea, even though her tummy felt ready to explode, but she didn’t have the courage or the heart to refuse Massi anything, not after the way she had been behaving since yesterday night.
Bani had to come up with a long winded excuse for all that happened and Massi being the gullible sort fell for it like every time!
Bani consumed some sandwich that Massi had made with great difficulty and almost threw it up when Massi said in a despondent manner, ‘Mujhe itni fikar hui teri…kal poori raat roti rahi…aur phir subah, kuch bataye bina, woh nayi gaadi mein baith kar chali gayi…mujhe laga pata nahin kya ho jaayega…Kiran aur Rano bhi ghar par nahin hain…toh maine Nachiket ko phone par sab bata diya…’
‘What? Massi….’ Shrieked Bani in horror and putting her hand on her forehead said, ‘Kya bataya use?’
Massi said surprised at her reaction, ‘Yahi ki raat ko tu sadak par baith kar ro rahi thi…aur phir raat bhar roti rahi…aur subah kahin uth kar chali gayi…who raste mein hai…yahin aa raha hoga…’
‘Oh My God…Oh My God…’ wailed Bani in despair, flinging her hands, thinking of something plausible to come up with when Nachiket landed here.
She did not want to tell anyone about Jai and herself right now…it was too complicated to explain…Rano was getting married in the next 5 days or so…Nachiket had gotten back with Purva just now…her whole house would be teeming with relatives by tomorrow…and Jai had mentioned something about his Father coming to India around this time…on top of that if she told them about Jai and herself, it would be…it would be too unsettling…and besides, it was Rano’s day…she was getting married and by talking about her love story with Jai (which Bani personally felt was far more interesting and romantic than Rano and Ranveer’s!) she would be stealing her sister’s thunder…only Rano deserved to be centre of attention now…till she got married and then maybe, Bani and Jai could very gracefully and very nicely, put across their renewed engagement in front of everyone.
Caught in between her thoughts, she did not see Nachiket literally banging inside the house, panting heavily and looking petrified.
‘Bani…’ he yelled out when he saw her!
She smiled sheepishly and waved at him, ‘Yep…I’m back…sorry for the emergency call that Massi made…she must have been scared!’
He stood still, taking in his breath and then said, ‘Scared? Of course she was…and so was I! Where the hell did you vanish in the morning? And why on earth were you crying whole of yesterday night…Massi told me she found you in sitting on the road, in the rain…’
Bani swallowed, thinking of something plausible that she could come up with.
He kept staring at her and then suddenly he said, ‘Jai…wasn’t he supposed to drop you home yesterday evening? You went off in his Car, right? No…actually, he dragged you into his Car…’
Bani nodded her head, scratching her brain more for something to say.
Nachiket waited for some time, pondering on the awkward scene that had taken place yesterday at his Flat and then with a slow voice said, ‘He fought with you, isn’t it? He saw you at my flat and assumed that we were having a scene and that is why all that cryptic talk that went on…and then he dragged you in anger…’
‘Yesss…he did take me along with him…’ said Bani hesitant.
Nachiket’s face was red with anger and he continued, ‘And then he must have accused you of all that nasty things that I had once accused Purva off…oh…and then left you to die in the middle of the road…in the rain, that too…at night…Ooh, that creep…’ he folded his fist in anger.
Bani gulped and said, ‘Nachiket…cool down…please…he did not leave me to die or anything…he dropped me right in front of my house…and yes, we did have a sort of…argument…but it’s okay now.’
‘Okay? Okay?’ Nachiket yelled, looking extremely furious and prancing up and down the room, ‘No, it’s not okay Bani…what the hell does he think he is? Wait till I tell Kiran aunty about this…she will ban that jerk’s entry into this house.’
Bani looked completely petrified and coming near him said hastily, ‘No…No…No…please don’t tell Ma about this…Please Nachiket…’
‘Why? She trusted him enough to come and go out of this house even after he broke the engagement…and look at how he pays it off…accusing you…hurting you…hitting you...leaving you to die…’
‘Nachiket…stop being so dramatic…he did not hit me and he certainly did not leave me to die!’
‘But he did all those other things, right?’
Bani gave an exasperated sigh and said, ‘See, if you say anything to Ma, she will be very upset…she adores him…he is Uday Uncle’s son…and besides, its Rano di’s wedding…let’s not spoil the atmosphere…’ her voice ended on a pleading note.
Nachiket still looked furious and stomping his feet said, ‘Okay…fine! But once Rano gets married, I’ll go and bash up that Walia’s teeth and bones for hurting you!’
Bani rolled her eyes and trying very hard to get a serious look said, ‘Of course…of course…ELMO beating the daylights out of The Incredible Hulk will be a sight, and I wouldn’t want to miss!’ ;) :tong:
‘He is Hulk and I am Elmo?’ yelped Nachiket sulking and offended!
‘I am just joking, Natty…now come on, have this sandwich that Massi made…Ma and Di will be arriving any time now!’
When Bani had settled down Nachiket with the sandwich and changed the course of the conversation with great difficulty, she was delighted to know that Purva and Nachiket had worked things out and they were together!
Nachiket looked guilty and sorrowful about the fact that everyone whom Bani knew was a couple while she was single…and on top of that, nursing a broken heart. Before he could once again launch his tirade against Jai, she made some soothing noises and diverted his attention towards Purva and their plans for future.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kiran and Rano arrived, flushed after the tiresome journey but thrilled with all the additional wedding purchases and after they had shown everything to Bani and Nachiket, Rano went out and looked around the Garage.
Coming back inside, she called Bani to a corner and said hesitatingly, ‘Er…Bani…the Garage…Um…did you get a letter and a pair of keys in our room? I left it for you before going off for Jaipur.’
Bani felt her cheeks going pink, but controlling her laughter and delight at how things had turned out, she said sorrowfully, ‘Yes…I did…and I returned them to the owner.’
Rano looked crestfallen and said, ‘Oh! But…I thought…I thought you would be elated to find the Car…Jai had planned it out so nicely…and I so wanted to read that letter…’
Keeping the same dejected expression on her face, she heaved a dramatic sigh and said, ‘We had a fight!’
Before Rano could ask further questions, Nachiket came bouncing in and in spite of Banis’ many remonstrations, gave a very hyper, lengthy and imaginative account of yesterday evening, adding many bits and pieces of his own and basically turning Jai from The Incredible Hulk to Hellboy III!
Bani wanted to hit Nachiket on his head but she knew if she opened her mouth in defense of Jai, she would have to spill the beans…so she kept that look on her face of utter misery and when Nachiket had finished, Rano was fuming with anger.
‘My god….that man! I am so happy you returned that stupid, red car of his, Bani…Grrr…Wait till I see him…Ooh, he is making me so mad…how dare he hurt you like this!’
Bani looked from her sister’s angry face to Nachiket’s fuming one, and she was caught between a desire to laugh out loudly and cry in desperation at the same time. She hated keeping secrets…and this was the biggest secret she had ever kept to herself…that Jai and Bani were a couple…very much in love!
Composing Rano and making her promise like Nachiket, that they won’t utter a word to Kiran about it, Bani felt she had the situation under control. Nachiket, she knew, could only talk a lot, but when it came to doing anything, was quite the opposite and there was a better chance of finding an alien in their garden than Nachiket ever hitting Jai!
And Rano would probably forget her anger, once the wedding got underway.
But Bani had miscalculated, her best friend and sister’s love and loyalty towards her!
When she had gone, Rano said to Nachiket, ‘My poor baby…no one…no one in our house has even spoken to her in a loud voice till date…and that guy; he had the guts to hit her head with a hammer?’
Nachiket gulped a bit, wondering whether he had exaggerated his knowledge of what had taken place between Jai and Bani a bit too much. (Yeh pitega...JW se, Bani se aur Rano se bhi...)
‘I…er…Rano, I am not sure, if it was a hammer…it might have been a tong or something,’ he spoke, sounding unsure.
‘Tong? Whatever be it! But the gall of him to hurt my sister…My sister! What does he think he is? Getting engaged when he feels like, breaking it off when he feels like, taking her out on dates when he feels like, leaving her to die on the road, when he feels like…’
Nachiket took another gulp and said, ‘I…er…Rano, I’m not sure, if he actually left her on the road to die…he might have just left her near the house…,’ sounding really unsure now. (Zaroor pitega...chawal ki kichdi bana kar paros raha hain...
)‘Whatever! But we will take revenge! Oh boy, will we! If he thinks, that there is no one to care for Bani and that he can hit her head with a hammer and leave her to die on the road, has he got it wrong or what!’
Nachiket felt it would be better to not say anything at the moment, looking at Rano’s general state of agitation.
Catching hold of Nachiket by his collar, she said in a excited high pitch, her eyes shining, ‘We will find someone else for Bani…yes…that is it!’
‘Someone else?’
Rano said determinedly, ‘Yes, someone else…who can make Jai Walia go green with envy…we will set up Bani with the hottest guy on this planet and then he can come to the wedding and watch them both and rot in his personal agony!’
Nachiket gave a strange look at Rano and said, ‘You know…I think all that wedding preparations has been taking a toll on you…’
Cutting him off, she went on excited, ‘That way, we will solve two purposes…get our revenge on Jai Walia and also start a new romance for Bani!’
Nachiket did not look very sure of the idea, but Rano looked radiant with her brainwave and said, ‘Yes…that will be my parting gift to Bani…my sister…I’ll find her a boyfriend…Nachiket…are you with me on this?’
Pausing for a moment he said, ‘Are you sure Rano…’
Catching hold of his collar again, she said, ‘Nachiket…that is your friend we are talking about…Bani…don’t you want to avenge her insult…don’t you want to punish the guy who broke her heart…don’t you want to see him all miserable and lonely, when she is with some other guy…you owe this to her, Nachiket!’
‘Okay…Okay…Fine. I am with you! Lets get started on this right now…the marriage is in 5 days and we have just this much time to find someone for Bani…so that Jai Walia can see with his own eyes what he has lost, when he comes for the wedding!’
They both did a hi-five and started scouring possibilities for prospective boyfriends and soul mates they could find for Bani.
‘Jai is s**y…so we have to get someone who is s**ier than him…what do you think about Brad Pitt?’ Rano asked with all seriousness, sharing a cup of tea with Nachiket, as they plunked themselves away from Bani’s view.
‘Brad Pitt? Nice suggestion Rano…but I don’t think Angelina and their half a dozen kids will let him go so easily…’
‘Oh…then what about someone from India? Like…Um…Shah Rukh Khan?’
‘Nah…he shoots for about 300 days in a year and smokes like a chimney…you know how Bani is allergic to smoke…’ (Yeah, like SRK is waiting for Bani to fall in love with him...)
Rano said wisely, ‘Ya…good point! That might become an issue between them…what about Amartya Sen…he is intellectual…teaches abroad…and hey, he has a Nobel to boot!’
‘Are we looking for a substitute grandparent or a boyfriend?’
‘Oh! Sorry, I got carried away…’
Before they could continue their meaningful research, Bani called them both inside for lunch.
Aditya had come back from Bangalore and after giving a sounding off to Nachiket for hanging around the Dixit House instead of working at the gallery, took off with him for work, promising Rano and Bani that he will be back in the evening.
‘What the hell were you and Nachiket gossiping like old ladies in the garden today?’ asked Bani, when they retired for the night.
Rano looked at her sister and said excitedly, ‘We are both on a mission!’
‘A what?’
‘A mission…to find you the perfect man…’
‘Why? Mind your own business!’ said Bani, irritated and amused.
‘No, we won’t! I know that behind your glowing, happy face is a shattered heart…and that you are lonely and sad…all because of that man…’
‘Oh god, Di…please, will you stop it! I’ve no issues with Jai…’
Drowning her protest, Rano went on, ‘Obviously you don’t…you have a forgiving, kind, gentle heart Bani…you are not like that…that man…’
At the tether end of her patience and desperately wanting Rano to sleep, so that she could sneak downstairs and call up Jai, she said, ‘Stop addressing him as “that man” and really, Di…stop getting so agitated over…’
Rano again cut her short and said lovingly, ‘You are a saint, Bani…you really are…look at you…even after he hit you with a hammer and left you to die on the road…you are not one bit avenging towards that man…’
‘What?’ yelled Bani in shock and continued ‘Hit me with a hammer and left me to die on the road…who has been telling you all this crap? And stop calling him “that man”!’
Rano refused to see reason and kept abusing poor Jai, addressing him as “that man” again and again and insisting on finding a partner for Bani before the marriage took place. Bani got so fed up, that she just took her pillow and duvet and stomped downstairs in irritation and went to sleep with Mango on the Couch.
To be continued...
Preview for Part 16 :
Bani went and sat down on the wooden swing in her garden! And with a sharp pang, remembered Jai sitting on it alongside her on her Birthday! And missed him so much, she felt like hitting the swing on her head, out of agony!
Everyone and everything was getting on her nerves, the unending work that her mother kept piling on her, Rano’s blood-pressure inducing sympathy talk and her reference to Jai as “that man” all the time, Aditya Chachu’s extremely silly jokes that he chose to tell at the most inopportune moments, Massi’s fussing over her with food all the time, Nachiket’s hyper-excited claims to punch Jai on his face the day he came in front of him, her idiotic cousin Saahil’s deathly shaayari’s which he chose to bombard on Bani anytime he saw her, cousin Meera’s hyena-type laughter echoing all around the house…
And all she wanted was to see Jai…desperately…see his eyes twinkling mischievously at her direction, see his mysterious smile that made her heart skip a beat or two…feel his fingers brushing against her skin that made her spine tingle…hear him sing his favorite song for her tunelessly, to lick his fingers when he put something in her mouth to eat…to laugh delightedly at his humor and wit…to fall on his chest and stay in his arms forever…
God, was love a tiresome business or not!
Never had she felt like this before…never had she felt such exhalation and such depression at the same moment…never had she felt so drifted and grounded at the same time…she felt like she was the smallest speck in the Universe and suddenly she felt like she was larger than life itself…
She never knew when she had fallen in love with Jai…probably she skipped that process and when she knew…she was in love with him! She had done nothing to fall in love with him, but when it happened, there was nothing she could do to stop herself.
When we fall in love, it proves just how powerful Nature is…just how powerful God is…and just how powerless we are in front of this most magical of all emotions.
Part 16
The Dixit House was teeming with relatives, from both Kiran and her late husband’s side…the entire contingent of Kanpur had descended in the living room of their house and Bani felt like banging her head against the first thing that came into her hands.
It was close to two days that she had seen Jai…and they could barely speak on the phone, what with Jai being busy throughout the day at Office and Bani being besieged with her cousins and aunts at night. Bani seriously regretted not having a cell phone and she could not use the landline, because the Living room, where the instrument was kept was either always busy with some or the other guest using it or there were people around it. There was no question of using the one in her Mother’s room and risk getting caught.
Bani sat listlessly on the stairs, looking utterly bored, listening to an extremely tedious rendition of shayari by one of her cousins from Kanpur.
‘Bani di…Bani di…listen to this one, its really good…I made it on my own.’ Went the buck-toothed Saahil, her Mother’s sister’s son, an extremely annoying young lad of 16 who was hell bent on reciting all his crap poetry to Bani.
Paying no attention to the look of complete boredom on Bani’s face, he went on enthusiastically,
‘Katchi Kali Katchnar Ki, Katcha Na Samjhna
Lar Jaoonga Tere Baap Se Batcha Na Samajhna’
With a bout of self-appraisal, he went ‘Wah..Wah’ on his own, Bani made a rotten face and said, ‘What sort of a Shaayari is this?’
Young Saahil blushed and said, ‘Psss…don’t tell this to my Mother…but I made this for our neibhour’s daughter…Kusumlata Kumari!’
‘That’s a name?’
Saahil blushed some more and said, ‘Yes…we sometimes meet secretly and go to watch a picture at Kanpur Talkies…cool, na?’
Bani gave him wry look and said, ‘Wow…that is the new height of coolness! Well, I should be going and doing some work…all the best to you…and Kusumlata Kumari…’
Muttering curses under her breath, Bani escaped before Saahil could come up with some other deadly Shaayari.
She went upstairs to her room to mop and moan over how much she missed Jai and how badly she wanted to see him or even talk to him just once. Her mother kept giving her one thing to do after another, which meant, that it was impossible to slip out even for half an hour…and besides Jai’s house was so far from her own and there was no question of landing up in his Office again, especially because Purva would be there…and then she would tell Nachiket and then the whole world would come to know.
Rano who was in an extremely jovial mood and high spirits with all the wedding preparations going around came prancing up, with another of their cousin, an equally obnoxious one called Meera.
‘Hi Bani…what are you doing here? Kiran Bua is looking for you all over the place…some guy had to come with the extra bedding, but he hasn’t turned up yet…just go and speak to her about it!’
Bani sulked and sat where she was, while Rano and Meera giggled uproariously over some sly, marriage related joke.
Rano looked at Bani and suddenly remembering the imagined state of her broken heart, sobered up and going near her said, ‘Oh…I am sorry Bani…I forgot how lonely you are…all because of “that man”
Gnashing her teeth in extreme irritation, she looked at her sister and said, ‘I beg of you Rano Di, don’t start it again…I am perfectly alright…and not mopping over “that man” as you keep saying again and again…just leave me in peace!’ wailed Bani in desperation and went off from the room.
Rano exclaimed gloomily after Bani had stormed off, ‘It’s the after effect of that hammer hitting her head…’
Meera looked perplexed and said, ‘Hammer?’
Rano who was equally bad at keeping secrets, ended up talking about Bani and Jai between wide eyes and grouses and abuses, about how “that man” had hit Bani on her head with a hammer and left her to die on the road. Meera made the necessary ‘OH MY GOD’ noises and they both sat down to curse all the men in the world, with the exception of Ranveer, of course!
Bani went and sat down on the wooden swing in her garden! And with a sharp pang, remembered Jai sitting on it alongside her on her Birthday! And missed him so much, she felt like hitting the swing on her head, out of agony!
Everyone and everything was getting on her nerves, the unending work that her mother kept piling on her, Rano’s blood-pressure inducing sympathy talk and her reference to Jai as “that man” all the time, Aditya Chachu’s extremely silly jokes that he chose to tell at the most inopportune moments, Massi’s fussing over her with food all the time, Nachiket’s hyper-excited claims to punch Jai on his face the day he came in front of him, her idiotic cousin Saahil’s deathly shaayari’s which he chose to bombard on Bani anytime he saw her, cousin Meera’s hyena-type laughter echoing all around the house…
And all she wanted was to see Jai…desperately…see his eyes twinkling mischievously at her direction, see his mysterious smile that made her heart skip a beat or two…feel his fingers brushing against her skin that made her spine tingle…hear him sing his favorite song for her tunelessly, to lick his fingers when he put something in her mouth to eat…to laugh delightedly at his humor and wit…to fall on his chest and stay in his arms forever…
God, was love a tiresome business or not!
Never had she felt like this before…never had she felt such exhalation and such depression at the same moment…never had she felt so drifted and grounded at the same time…she felt like she was the smallest speck in the Universe and suddenly she felt like she was larger than life itself…
She never knew when she had fallen in love with Jai…probably she skipped that process and when she knew…she was in love with him! She had done nothing to fall in love with him, but when it happened, there was nothing she could do to stop herself.
When we fall in love, it proves just how powerful Nature is…just how powerful God is…and just how powerless we are in front of this most magical of all emotions.
Lost in her own dreams and thoughts and glowing radiantly with the first flush of love on her face, she was interrupted rudely by her Mother, who yelled on Bani to stop day-dreaming about food and come and help out at home!
Poor Bani was stuck making some phone calls to vendors, following up on getting extra-bedding and other paraphernalia, with Saahil, finding her again and launching a fresh batch of poetry that he had composed for Kusumalta Kumari on her desperate self.
“Dil hai tera dariyaa....Aankhen hain teri Jheel
So my darling ... What's The Big-Deal ?? “ and then went ‘Wah…Wah…’
“Ghar ghar main diya jale
To diwali mat samjho
Agar main tera peeche paroon
To mawali mat samjho”
Bani banged the phone down in the middle of a very confusing conversation with the vendor and giving a murderous look at Saahil said, ‘Saahil…one more of this shaayari…I warn you, Kusumlata Kumari will be left watching pictures at Kanpur Talkies all on her own…’
Getting thoroughly frightened by the look on Bani’s face, he scampered out of her vision.
As she was about to make another call, cursing Saahil and the rest of the assembled Dixit’s under her breath, the phone rang, almost jolting her severely in the process. Thinking that the vendor with whom she had been talking now had called back, she picked up the phone and went straight on;
‘Bhaiyaa…this won’t do! Bistar toh aapko usi rate par dene hong…’
The voice at the other end paused and said slowly, ‘Bhaiyya? From Saiyyan to Bhaiyaa in just two days?For how long,
haven’t we spoken, Bani?’
Bani yelped with excitement at the sound of Jai’s voice and giggling at what he had said, whispered on the phone, ‘Jai?’
‘Er…Yes…and please don’t call me Bhaiyaa again…I can’t take the shock twice!’
She giggled some more and explained to him that she was expecting a vendor’s call.
He laughed and and said, heaving a sigh said affectionately, ‘I miss you monkey!’
She grinned at the other end on his affectionate way of addressing her, but getting a mock-serious voice said, ‘Is that the way to address your girlfriend?’
‘Girlfriend…hey, I slipped on that Engagement ring back on your finger, isn’t it? I am your Fiancé, not a mere boyfriend!’
She smiled and said in the same haughty tone, ‘All the more reason, you speak to me correctly!’
‘Only if you agree to come and meet me tonight…’
Bani smiled and sighing how romantic he sounded, said with resigned desperation, ‘I can’t come…you don’t know what I am going through in this mad-house…’
He frowned at the other end and said, ‘Why? We haven’t even spoken for the last two days…I’ve been so bloody tied up with my work…I wrapped up early today so that we could meet…’
Bani felt like howling in desolation …what she could do to just see him once…and here, he was calling her for a date…but she knew it was impossible and besides, what would she tell everyone, especially Rano, who was hell bent on the fact that Monster Jai had almost beaten her sister to death!
She said softly, ‘I am sorry…I can’t tell you how much I want to see you…but everyone’s here…all our relatives…and Ma won’t let me budge out of the house…’
She sounded so despairing, so hopelessly in love with him, that he couldn’t help grinning to himself widely over the phone and said, ‘Don’t you worry…if the horse can’t come to the Water, the water will come to the Horse!’
‘I am not a Horse! And please, please, please…do anything but don’t come here…please! I beg of you!’ Bani sounded all squeaky and anxious, the last thing she wanted was Jai’s presence amongst the throng of her relatives and with Nachiket and Rano hanging around like a couple of Mother-hens to protect Bani!
‘Now you have not only got me curious…but also adamant…we have to meet today!’
‘Jai…please…don’t act like this…’
‘Act like what?’
‘Act like…act like me…’
‘And what does that mean?’
She waited for a while and blushing pink said softly, ‘Act like you are head over heels in love…’
He leaned back on his chair and smiled to himself and said in husky tone, ‘But I am head over heels in love, Bani…with you!’
They both kept quiet for sometime till Meera came striding by and said, ‘Bani…are you finished with that call? I need to make one to the Beautician…the wretched woman was supposed to be here by now…’
Frowning at Meera for disturbing a perfectly romantic talk with Jai, she waved her hand and indicated 2 minutes. Much to her annoyance, Meera kept standing there, airing her fingers, on which she had applied a fresh coat of nail polish, the third one since she had come to their house.
‘Erm…Bhaiyya…about that bistar…I’ll call you again…’
‘Bhaiyaa again? Is there someone around?’
‘Yes…and we would need an additional bedding tomorrow…’
‘For both of us?’ he said that and laughed teasingly.
Bani blushed crimson and continued in her best official tone, ‘I will make the payment later, is that alright?’
‘Of course you will make the payment…do you think I’ll let you go free?’
The crimson on her cheeks had started turning darker and darker and biting her lips to avoid laughing in front of Meera, she said, ‘I’ll call again…to confirm…about the bedding…and payment!’
‘Bani, this sounds like one of those dial-in, s** talk…Bedding…Payment…’ he laughed uproariously, enjoying pulling her leg!
‘Nice to know you have your business interests elsewhere too!’ she added jealously.
‘Hey, I’m joking, sweetheart…okay, now give me a kiss!’
‘Impossible…I can’t make an immediate payment…not through E-channel anyway!’
‘Gah!’ he spit out in frustration and laughing said, ‘Fine…pay anytime you choose too…but with compounded interest! Bye…I love you!’
‘Yes…and I agree with you fully on this point! Bye!’
Bani kept the phone, shivering from head to toe, and trying so badly to hide that huge grin that spread across her face. Meera stared suspiciously at her for some time before taking the phone for herself.
Later that night, she whispered into Rano’s ears, ‘Rano…I don’t mean to sound gossipy and all…But I think you should keep an eye on your younger sister!’
Rano who was selecting clothes to take for her honeymoon, stared at her cousin and said, ‘Bani? Why, what happened?’
Meera, getting a very virtuous look on her face said conspiratorially, ‘I think she is having an affair with someone…’
‘What?’ Rano dropped the work she was currently attending to and coming near Meera, said angrily, ‘What do you mean?’
Gulping a bit, Meera recounted the whole phone incident to Rano and said that she found Bani’s talk to be too cryptic and she was all red and blushing when she got off from the phone.
Rano scolded Meera and told her to mind her own business, saying Bani would never hide anything from her…but she was left doubting about what she had just heard…Meera was a silly, sly thing…but she always got her gossip right…and if that was so…then whom was Bani talking to over the phone?
To be continued...
Preview for Part 17
He had his back against the wall of the Terrace and was holding Bani securely in his arms; he smiled at her worried expression and took in her beauty with languorous ease …
‘Why are you looking at me like this?’ her voice came out timorous and coy.
‘I thought I was allowed to look at you…’ his fingers were curving a knot of hair which had come loose from her plait and whenever his fingers made contact with her skin, she shivered some more.
Lowering her eyes, she smiled shyly and he bent his head towards her face, his warm breath caressing her face as he bit her earlobe gently and trailed down the exposed curve of her slender neck, reaching her chin, planting innumerous kisses, some playful, some demanding, some igniting…
His fingers slid from her hair to her exposed back and he fiddled with the strings of her blouse, before she could protest, he had covered her mouth and beginning gently with the side of her lips, he planted a feathery kiss and then got exploring and intimate, refusing to let her go.
When he finally withdrew himself from her, she was so smitten and mesmerized with his sensual touch that she failed to hear Saahil’s footsteps coming on the Terrace and only when his sing song voice called out, ‘Bani di…Bani di…’ that the realization came.
The Dixit House was teeming with relatives, from both Kiran and her late husband’s side…the entire contingent of Kanpur had descended in the living room of their house and Bani felt like banging her head against the first thing that came into her hands.
It was close to two days that she had seen Jai…and they could barely speak on the phone, what with Jai being busy throughout the day at Office and Bani being besieged with her cousins and aunts at night. Bani seriously regretted not having a cell phone and she could not use the landline, because the Living room, where the instrument was kept was either always busy with some or the other guest using it or there were people around it. There was no question of using the one in her Mother’s room and risk getting caught.
Bani sat listlessly on the stairs, looking utterly bored, listening to an extremely tedious rendition of shayari by one of her cousins from Kanpur.
‘Bani di…Bani di…listen to this one, its really good…I made it on my own.’ Went the buck-toothed Saahil, her Mother’s sister’s son, an extremely annoying young lad of 16 who was hell bent on reciting all his crap poetry to Bani.
Paying no attention to the look of complete boredom on Bani’s face, he went on enthusiastically,
‘Katchi Kali Katchnar Ki, Katcha Na Samjhna
Lar Jaoonga Tere Baap Se Batcha Na Samajhna’
With a bout of self-appraisal, he went ‘Wah..Wah’ on his own, Bani made a rotten face and said, ‘What sort of a Shaayari is this?’
Young Saahil blushed and said, ‘Psss…don’t tell this to my Mother…but I made this for our neibhour’s daughter…Kusumlata Kumari!’
‘That’s a name?’
Saahil blushed some more and said, ‘Yes…we sometimes meet secretly and go to watch a picture at Kanpur Talkies…cool, na?’
Bani gave him wry look and said, ‘Wow…that is the new height of coolness! Well, I should be going and doing some work…all the best to you…and Kusumlata Kumari…’
Muttering curses under her breath, Bani escaped before Saahil could come up with some other deadly Shaayari.
She went upstairs to her room to mop and moan over how much she missed Jai and how badly she wanted to see him or even talk to him just once. Her mother kept giving her one thing to do after another, which meant, that it was impossible to slip out even for half an hour…and besides Jai’s house was so far from her own and there was no question of landing up in his Office again, especially because Purva would be there…and then she would tell Nachiket and then the whole world would come to know.
Rano who was in an extremely jovial mood and high spirits with all the wedding preparations going around came prancing up, with another of their cousin, an equally obnoxious one called Meera.
‘Hi Bani…what are you doing here? Kiran Bua is looking for you all over the place…some guy had to come with the extra bedding, but he hasn’t turned up yet…just go and speak to her about it!’
Bani sulked and sat where she was, while Rano and Meera giggled uproariously over some sly, marriage related joke.
Rano looked at Bani and suddenly remembering the imagined state of her broken heart, sobered up and going near her said, ‘Oh…I am sorry Bani…I forgot how lonely you are…all because of “that man”
Gnashing her teeth in extreme irritation, she looked at her sister and said, ‘I beg of you Rano Di, don’t start it again…I am perfectly alright…and not mopping over “that man” as you keep saying again and again…just leave me in peace!’ wailed Bani in desperation and went off from the room.
Rano exclaimed gloomily after Bani had stormed off, ‘It’s the after effect of that hammer hitting her head…’
Meera looked perplexed and said, ‘Hammer?’
Rano who was equally bad at keeping secrets, ended up talking about Bani and Jai between wide eyes and grouses and abuses, about how “that man” had hit Bani on her head with a hammer and left her to die on the road. Meera made the necessary ‘OH MY GOD’ noises and they both sat down to curse all the men in the world, with the exception of Ranveer, of course!
Bani went and sat down on the wooden swing in her garden! And with a sharp pang, remembered Jai sitting on it alongside her on her Birthday! And missed him so much, she felt like hitting the swing on her head, out of agony!
Everyone and everything was getting on her nerves, the unending work that her mother kept piling on her, Rano’s blood-pressure inducing sympathy talk and her reference to Jai as “that man” all the time, Aditya Chachu’s extremely silly jokes that he chose to tell at the most inopportune moments, Massi’s fussing over her with food all the time, Nachiket’s hyper-excited claims to punch Jai on his face the day he came in front of him, her idiotic cousin Saahil’s deathly shaayari’s which he chose to bombard on Bani anytime he saw her, cousin Meera’s hyena-type laughter echoing all around the house…
And all she wanted was to see Jai…desperately…see his eyes twinkling mischievously at her direction, see his mysterious smile that made her heart skip a beat or two…feel his fingers brushing against her skin that made her spine tingle…hear him sing his favorite song for her tunelessly, to lick his fingers when he put something in her mouth to eat…to laugh delightedly at his humor and wit…to fall on his chest and stay in his arms forever…
God, was love a tiresome business or not!
Never had she felt like this before…never had she felt such exhalation and such depression at the same moment…never had she felt so drifted and grounded at the same time…she felt like she was the smallest speck in the Universe and suddenly she felt like she was larger than life itself…
She never knew when she had fallen in love with Jai…probably she skipped that process and when she knew…she was in love with him! She had done nothing to fall in love with him, but when it happened, there was nothing she could do to stop herself.
When we fall in love, it proves just how powerful Nature is…just how powerful God is…and just how powerless we are in front of this most magical of all emotions.
Lost in her own dreams and thoughts and glowing radiantly with the first flush of love on her face, she was interrupted rudely by her Mother, who yelled on Bani to stop day-dreaming about food and come and help out at home!
Poor Bani was stuck making some phone calls to vendors, following up on getting extra-bedding and other paraphernalia, with Saahil, finding her again and launching a fresh batch of poetry that he had composed for Kusumalta Kumari on her desperate self.
“Dil hai tera dariyaa....Aankhen hain teri Jheel
So my darling ... What's The Big-Deal ?? “ and then went ‘Wah…Wah…’
“Ghar ghar main diya jale
To diwali mat samjho
Agar main tera peeche paroon
To mawali mat samjho”
Bani banged the phone down in the middle of a very confusing conversation with the vendor and giving a murderous look at Saahil said, ‘Saahil…one more of this shaayari…I warn you, Kusumlata Kumari will be left watching pictures at Kanpur Talkies all on her own…’
Getting thoroughly frightened by the look on Bani’s face, he scampered out of her vision.
As she was about to make another call, cursing Saahil and the rest of the assembled Dixit’s under her breath, the phone rang, almost jolting her severely in the process. Thinking that the vendor with whom she had been talking now had called back, she picked up the phone and went straight on;
‘Bhaiyaa…this won’t do! Bistar toh aapko usi rate par dene hong…’
The voice at the other end paused and said slowly, ‘Bhaiyya? From Saiyyan to Bhaiyaa in just two days?
For how long,
haven’t we spoken, Bani?’Bani yelped with excitement at the sound of Jai’s voice and giggling at what he had said, whispered on the phone, ‘Jai?’
‘Er…Yes…and please don’t call me Bhaiyaa again…I can’t take the shock twice!’
She giggled some more and explained to him that she was expecting a vendor’s call.
He laughed and and said, heaving a sigh said affectionately, ‘I miss you monkey!’
She grinned at the other end on his affectionate way of addressing her, but getting a mock-serious voice said, ‘Is that the way to address your girlfriend?’
‘Girlfriend…hey, I slipped on that Engagement ring back on your finger, isn’t it? I am your Fiancé, not a mere boyfriend!’
She smiled and said in the same haughty tone, ‘All the more reason, you speak to me correctly!’
‘Only if you agree to come and meet me tonight…’
Bani smiled and sighing how romantic he sounded, said with resigned desperation, ‘I can’t come…you don’t know what I am going through in this mad-house…’
He frowned at the other end and said, ‘Why? We haven’t even spoken for the last two days…I’ve been so bloody tied up with my work…I wrapped up early today so that we could meet…’
Bani felt like howling in desolation …what she could do to just see him once…and here, he was calling her for a date…but she knew it was impossible and besides, what would she tell everyone, especially Rano, who was hell bent on the fact that Monster Jai had almost beaten her sister to death!
She said softly, ‘I am sorry…I can’t tell you how much I want to see you…but everyone’s here…all our relatives…and Ma won’t let me budge out of the house…’
She sounded so despairing, so hopelessly in love with him, that he couldn’t help grinning to himself widely over the phone and said, ‘Don’t you worry…if the horse can’t come to the Water, the water will come to the Horse!’
‘I am not a Horse! And please, please, please…do anything but don’t come here…please! I beg of you!’ Bani sounded all squeaky and anxious, the last thing she wanted was Jai’s presence amongst the throng of her relatives and with Nachiket and Rano hanging around like a couple of Mother-hens to protect Bani!
‘Now you have not only got me curious…but also adamant…we have to meet today!’
‘Jai…please…don’t act like this…’
‘Act like what?’
‘Act like…act like me…’
‘And what does that mean?’
She waited for a while and blushing pink said softly, ‘Act like you are head over heels in love…’
He leaned back on his chair and smiled to himself and said in husky tone, ‘But I am head over heels in love, Bani…with you!’
They both kept quiet for sometime till Meera came striding by and said, ‘Bani…are you finished with that call? I need to make one to the Beautician…the wretched woman was supposed to be here by now…’
Frowning at Meera for disturbing a perfectly romantic talk with Jai, she waved her hand and indicated 2 minutes. Much to her annoyance, Meera kept standing there, airing her fingers, on which she had applied a fresh coat of nail polish, the third one since she had come to their house.
‘Erm…Bhaiyya…about that bistar…I’ll call you again…’
‘Bhaiyaa again? Is there someone around?’
‘Yes…and we would need an additional bedding tomorrow…’
‘For both of us?’ he said that and laughed teasingly.
Bani blushed crimson and continued in her best official tone, ‘I will make the payment later, is that alright?’
‘Of course you will make the payment…do you think I’ll let you go free?’
The crimson on her cheeks had started turning darker and darker and biting her lips to avoid laughing in front of Meera, she said, ‘I’ll call again…to confirm…about the bedding…and payment!’
‘Bani, this sounds like one of those dial-in, s** talk…Bedding…Payment…’ he laughed uproariously, enjoying pulling her leg!
‘Nice to know you have your business interests elsewhere too!’ she added jealously.
‘Hey, I’m joking, sweetheart…okay, now give me a kiss!’
‘Impossible…I can’t make an immediate payment…not through E-channel anyway!’
‘Gah!’ he spit out in frustration and laughing said, ‘Fine…pay anytime you choose too…but with compounded interest! Bye…I love you!’
‘Yes…and I agree with you fully on this point! Bye!’
Bani kept the phone, shivering from head to toe, and trying so badly to hide that huge grin that spread across her face. Meera stared suspiciously at her for some time before taking the phone for herself.
Later that night, she whispered into Rano’s ears, ‘Rano…I don’t mean to sound gossipy and all…But I think you should keep an eye on your younger sister!’
Rano who was selecting clothes to take for her honeymoon, stared at her cousin and said, ‘Bani? Why, what happened?’
Meera, getting a very virtuous look on her face said conspiratorially, ‘I think she is having an affair with someone…’
‘What?’ Rano dropped the work she was currently attending to and coming near Meera, said angrily, ‘What do you mean?’
Gulping a bit, Meera recounted the whole phone incident to Rano and said that she found Bani’s talk to be too cryptic and she was all red and blushing when she got off from the phone.
Rano scolded Meera and told her to mind her own business, saying Bani would never hide anything from her…but she was left doubting about what she had just heard…Meera was a silly, sly thing…but she always got her gossip right…and if that was so…then whom was Bani talking to over the phone?
To be continued...
Preview for Part 17
He had his back against the wall of the Terrace and was holding Bani securely in his arms; he smiled at her worried expression and took in her beauty with languorous ease …
‘Why are you looking at me like this?’ her voice came out timorous and coy.
‘I thought I was allowed to look at you…’ his fingers were curving a knot of hair which had come loose from her plait and whenever his fingers made contact with her skin, she shivered some more.
Lowering her eyes, she smiled shyly and he bent his head towards her face, his warm breath caressing her face as he bit her earlobe gently and trailed down the exposed curve of her slender neck, reaching her chin, planting innumerous kisses, some playful, some demanding, some igniting…
His fingers slid from her hair to her exposed back and he fiddled with the strings of her blouse, before she could protest, he had covered her mouth and beginning gently with the side of her lips, he planted a feathery kiss and then got exploring and intimate, refusing to let her go.
When he finally withdrew himself from her, she was so smitten and mesmerized with his sensual touch that she failed to hear Saahil’s footsteps coming on the Terrace and only when his sing song voice called out, ‘Bani di…Bani di…’ that the realization came.
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Edit: August 29, 2008, 02:23:57 am by poppy »
Part 17 - A
Today evening was Ladies Sangeet at Dixit House and a red and yellow colored canopy had been erected in the lawns. There was a lot of bonhomie and cheer in the atmosphere, with dozens of women chirping, gossiping and laughing around.
Nachiket was wandering like a homeless waif in and out of the house, trying to locate Bani when Saahil gave running to him and said, ‘Natoo Bhaiyaa? Rano Di is calling you upstairs…’
‘Oh…okay, I’ll go! And don’t call me Natoo!’ He waded through the throngs of women, dressed in glittery silks, crepes and chiffons and made his way upstairs. The place looked upside down, with the Flower-vendor still doing his decorations, Kiran running from pillar to post, shouting out instructions to Bani, who was nowhere to be seen, Massi trying to keep an eye on Mango, who was extremely jumpy and excited to see so many people in his house and Aditya looking very happy with life, sitting in the midst of some women, telling them jokes and getting pink in the face, when they laughed and flirted with him.
Met with a permanently suspicious looking Meera at the door, Nachiket coughed politely and interrupted the gathering, a bevy of young girls, cousins and friends broke out giggling madly when they saw him in their midst.
‘This better be good, Rano…’ he muttered, as she came out, still in the process of getting dressed up for the Sangeet and took him to a corner of the room.
‘Nachiket…I found the perfect guy!’
He rolled his eyes and said, ‘Is this why you called me up here? You have been singing the same tune since you got engaged to Ranveer. We all know you have found the perfect guy. Now tell me have you seen Bani somewhere?’
She gave an impatient snort and said, ‘No dumbo…I am not talking about Ranveer…The perfect guy for Bani!’
‘What? Where did you find him? And when did you find him? I can’t see any men in this house except Adi Chachu and that bozo, Saahil…’
Rano’s eyes gleamed in anticipation and she whispered into his ears, ‘He is coming tonight…you will see him at the Sangeet Function!’
‘Now, you’ve got me curious…so who is he?’
She grinned, showing off her pearly whites and said, ‘He is a distant relative…from Kanpur!’
‘Kanpur?Are you crazy? I knew the wedding preparations have taken a toll on you…A guy from Kanpur to make Jai Walia jealous…’
‘Will you stop interrupting and listen to me? His family is from Kanpur, they are my Nani’s neighbours and very close family friends…the guy works in UK and is in India for holidays…basically on a bride-hunt…and guess what, he is coming tonight with his parents for the Sangeet…and they will be here till the wedding!’
Nachiket looked excited and said, ‘Ooh…now that sounds good! So how is this chap? Considering we are pitting him against the Hulk!’
Rano paused and getting a thoughtful expression said, ‘Well…to be honest, I don’t remember him much…we saw him many years back in Kanpur…then he used to have a runny nose all the time and also he kept farting a lot…’
Nachiket burst out laughing, ‘Snotty and Smelly…Wow! Won’t Bani be thrilled to know about her Prince Charming?’ :tong:
Rano hit Nachiket in his ribs and said, ‘Stop being so funny…he was a kid then…he is a grown up man now…and an NRI to boot!’
Nachiket controlled his laughter and asked, ‘So what’s Mr. Farty’s name?’
She glared at him and then grinning in anticipation of playing cupid said, ‘Pushkar Shukla!’
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Nachiket finally managed to locate Bani who was on the terrace, trying to instruct the electrician to put the fairy lights in a way that her Mother had wanted.
When she saw him coming, she grinned and said, ‘Yes…Yes…Your Purva is coming tonight! She confirmed just a while ago on phone!’
He smiled and said, ‘Hey, I just came to ask if you need any help!’
‘Liar…I know you have been dying to ask me if I have invited Purva or not!’
Nachiket blushed and scratched his head the way he always did when he got embarrassed.
He told her to go downstairs and get dressed, while he handled the Electrician!
‘Btw, there is a surprise coming for you this evening!’
Bani turned to look at him and said, ‘Surprise!’ and then pausing for a moment added, ‘Oh God…don’t tell me that you are planning to pick up a fight with Jai! Please tell me, No!’
‘Jai? I am not talking about “that man”!’
‘Nachiket…you too? I think Rano’s company is influencing you too much! So what is the surprise?’
He grinned and did a jig standing where he was and said, ‘Prince Charming…and his nose is no longer runny and hopefully he’s stopped farting too!’
She looked bemused and thinking being in love again is playing havocs with his mental state, shrugged her head and hopped downstairs…
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It was close to 8 in the evening and all the women had gathered on the lawns for the Sangeet Function to begin. The men of the house, which included some male relatives and of course, Aditya, Nachiket, Tarun and some of Ranveer’s close relatives were assembled in the drawing room.
Kiran had asked Aditya to personally call up Jai and request him to come for the evening gathering.
Bani was the last one left in her room, tied up with work till the end moment, she was now sitting in front of the mirror and getting dressed up. She wondered if Jai would come tonight…it was a Sangeet Function and he hardly knew Aditya well enough to attend the Men’s gathering.
Hoping against hope that she would get to see him tonight, she dressed carefully in a low-waisted, peach colored lehenga, spangled with moon dust all over it worn over an all-strings mirror-work choli. Bani had always been very conservative in her choice of clothes, but in this dress, which was traditional yet very s**y, she felt so sure of herself, so beautiful…so desired! Her cheeks matched the color of her dress, and tying her hair in a long plait, she pinned lots of jasmine flowers onto them, humming a song under her breath, ‘Bhanware ki gunjan hain mera dil…’
While still getting dressed, she heard a bit of commotion downstairs…a lot of squealing and hugging and excitement was going on apparently…and Rano’s voice was most prominent…surely, given the state of her anger towards “that man” it couldn’t be Jai who had come. She took the chiffon duppata with her and wrapped it clumsily over her, to go and peep out.
It wasn’t Jai, she noticed disappointed. There was a middle-aged man, a woman roughly her mother’s age and a young man, whose face she couldn’t see clearly.
Rano who had come in to meet them, was acting all excited yet coy at the same moment, as she touched that Uncle and Aunty’s feet and grinned in a funny manner at the young chap. Bani wondered who that could be!
Bani finished dressing up and before going down to join the others; she heard some strange noises coming from the Terrace, like someone was stamping on the floor of the terrace! Wondering who could be upstairs, since everyone had gathered down, she decided to run a quick check, worrying that there were so many valuables and people in the house; she could not risk a chance.
It was dark and cold and she shivered when a light breeze blew, tingling her exposed skin. There was no one around, only the sound of singing and chatter of noises came from the lawns below.
Shrugging her head in confusion, since she felt sure she had heard distinct noises, she made her way down the staircase, when a pair of muscular arms enclosed her waist and she almost screamed out in horror, before a palm went around her mouth and clasped it.
‘Ssshhhh…its me!’ Gasping for breath and scared out of her life, she swerved to see the direction of the voice and her heart skipped a beat, when she saw Jai, winking at her.
‘Jai?’ her voice came out incredulous.
‘Who else would dare to hold you in this way?’ he retorted teasingly.
Blushing profusely, she said, ‘You scared the life out of me…and what on earth are you doing on the Terrace? When did you even come home? How come I never saw? And…’
‘Okay…Okay…One by one, lady!’ he slipped both his arms around her waist and pulled her playfully towards him, till she fell on his chest.
Staring at her for sometime, he planted a kiss on her forehead and said, ‘You look gorgeous…’ It was a simple statement, but the timbre in his voice made her go hot and cold at the same time.
The Terrace was shrouded in darkness, only the faint glow of the fairy lights and the pale shadow of full moon alighted them both. The sound of music and laughter could be heard from below.
Catching her breath, she said in panic, her voice coming out a bit squeaky and shy, ‘everyone must be wondering where I am…someone will come up…someone might see us…’
He had his back against the wall of the Terrace and was holding Bani securely in his arms; he smiled at her worried expression and took in her beauty with languorous ease …
‘Why are you looking at me like this?’ her voice came out timorous and coy.
‘I thought I was allowed to look at you…’ his fingers were curving a knot of hair which had come loose from her plait and whenever his fingers made contact with her skin, she shivered some more.
Lowering her eyes, she smiled shyly and he bent his head towards her face, his warm breath caressing her face as he bit her earlobe gently and trailed down the exposed curve of her slender neck, reaching her chin, planting innumerous kisses, some playful, some demanding, some igniting…
His fingers slid from her hair to her exposed back and he fiddled with the strings of her blouse, before she could protest, he had covered her mouth and beginning gently with the side of her lips, he planted a feathery kiss and then got exploring and intimate, refusing to let her go.
When he finally withdrew himself from her, she was so smitten and mesmerized with his sensual touch that she failed to hear Saahil’s footsteps coming on the Terrace and only when his sing song voice called out, ‘Bani di…Bani di…’ that the realization came.
Panicking in frenzy, she drew herself back from Jai, almost jumping in nervous tension, ‘Oh God…Saahil is coming here…what I shall do…where I shall hide…help me…Jai…’
He kept looking at her, grinning and then laughing at her sudden change of manners…and waving his hand casually, handed over her duppata back to her, which had been caught entangled in his hands, during their passionate encounter.
‘My choli…’ she squealed, as she realized it was coming off loose and then saw his wicked smile, hitting him playfully on his arms, tried to tie it with despair and then gave him a pleading look.
‘I can only open it for free…there is a payment to be made for tying it back…’ :whistling
Turning crimson, she begged, ‘Please Jai…someone is coming…’
Raising his hands in appeasement, he came near her and tied up the strings he had opened and only let her run towards the door, after he had forcibly kissed her once again on her lips. (Abhi se yeh haal hain...)
Blushing some more, she stood foolishly, not knowing what to do, till he pushed her towards the door and said quietly, ‘I’ll be down in the hall with the others. Go!’
The moment she came out of the Terrace, she found Saahil standing there looking perplexed, ‘Di…what are you doing here? Kiran Massi has been looking for you…she is so angry…and so is Rano Di…come na!’ Making some calming noises, she proceeded to leave, looking back, wondering how on Earth Jai would get down from the Terrace and also how he ever got there in the first place.
As soon as Bani entered the Canopy, Meera noticed her and said, ‘Where the hell were you, Bani? Everyone is asking for you…and why is your lipstick all smudged? Haven’t I told you, first you apply the lipliner and then fill in the color…’
‘And your hair looks a bit untidy…and goodness, one string of your choli is undone…what were you doing? Arm-wrestling?’
Bani blushed deeply and mentally cursed Meera for being such an observant, suspicious shrew! She drew a deep breath and remembering that offence was the best form of defence, said haughtily, ‘Yes, I was arm-wrestling…happy!?’
Before Bani had a chance to get away from her, Meera’s expression became more suspicious and coming near her, touched her ear and said, ‘And it seems you forgot one of your earrings with the Wrestler!’
Taking in Bani’s flushed visage, Meera gave a high-pitched and shrill laughter and patting Bani away, wondered whoever was found with the other pair of the earring was the mystery man in Bani’s life. Without wasting any time, she went and whispered the whole thing in Rano’s ears.
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Jai was left behind smiling and holding one of the unclasped earrings in his hands. Very coolly, he walked down to the other end of the Terrace and with the help of the drainage pipe, slided down as noiselessly as he had come up. The Pipe landed him on the parapet of the kitchen window, from there he had a quick look to see if there was no one around and he jumped onto the lawns, hidden from view because of the Canopy and coolly, scaling the wall, got out and dusted his clothes.
Taking a deep breath and with an expression of nonchalance, he proceeded to walk all around the side walls and reach the front of Dixit House and get in, like any normal guest!
Good thing, few people knew that he had been a champion obstacle race runner in his school days and scaling walls and climbing down from pipes was Childs play to him. He wondered how Bani would react when she got to know of his particular skills that he had brought to full use tonight!
He made a quiet entry, dressed in his Office clothes, with just his Tie taken off and when Aditya saw him, he welcomed him warmly. Only the men were assembled in the hall downstairs and Jai made him comfortable in a corner of the room.
Kiran had bumped into Jai when he was walking in and a bit daunted at facing Bani’s mother, after the rather heated encounter on the Terrace with her daugther, he stammered a bit on his words, when she asked him delightedly, ‘Jai…it is so nice of you to take out time and come for today’s function…where are you coming from?’
He gagged a bit and said, ‘Er…Office, straight from my Office!’ :whistling (He forgot to add, with a detour to your Terrace!)
Kiran smiled and said, ‘Yes, I can see that…but so late? Now this won’t do for the wedding, I want you at my home from morning…no fleeting appearances! Alright?’
He had the grace to smile and make some courteous small talk and heaving a breath of relief, vanished from her view, when she was taken up with some other guests who just arrived!
Liking him because he was a close family friend’s son did one thing…letting him get away with the fact that he was fooling around with her daughter in her house, right under her nose, was certainly something else!
Quick introductions were made and Jai settled down to chat with Tarun and Ranveer’s father.
Tarun who was sharing a joke with one of the guests, suddenly looked at Jai and said, ‘Jai…why are your lips glowing?’
‘What?’
‘I don’t know…something on them…like glitter…something sparkling!’
Jai quickly wiped off his lips and smiling in a cool manner, replied, ‘Oh nothing…the winter air dries my lips…I borrowed some chapstic from Stella…’
Tarun looked strangely at Jai, thoroughly skeptical at his reply.
Nachiket who had been going in and out of the Canopy where all the women were assembled to try and meet Purva was visibly shocked to see Jai sitting comfortably in the Living room of the Dixits!
Forgetting all about his threats and promises of punching Jai on his face, he ran outside and straight into the Pandal and with great difficulty, was able to speak with Rano, who was surrounded by a lot of giggling and singing women.
Ignoring the stares and mutters of the women, he whispered into her ears, ‘Rano…that man is here!’
Rano turned to look at him with wide eyes and said, ‘The audacity of him…after trying to murder my sister…he has the guts to come here?’
Nachiket looked seriously in doubt and regretted exaggerating what Bani had told him…from being accused of dragging Bani, to hitting her with a hammer, Jai was now being accused of trying to murder Bani…this did not sound good at all!
‘Whatever…but we have put our plan into action…where is that creature from UK?’
Rano and Nachiket looked around surreptiously, much to Bani’s amusement, who wondered what on Earth were they gossiping around all the time, especially, as she had hardly ever seen them talking before!
Rano hissed back into his ears, ‘Don’t speak of him like that…he might be the future son-in-law of this house…’
‘Why? Are you planning to divorce Ranveer already!’
Rano hit Nachiket on his head and said, ‘No stupid…the son-in-law for the younger daughter! Isn’t he a doll?’
Nachiket rolled his eyes in remembrance when just a while back, they had been introduced to Pushkar Shukla and his family! His parents were nice, normal people and also his elder brother was okay, bit hen-pecked though…but his sister-in-law, a lady called Seema and Pushkar himself were a period piece in themselves!
‘Rano, he kept calling me Naughty-kid instead of Nachiket…’
She giggled and getting a bashful expression again, when some ladies looked towards her, whispered back into his ears, ‘So what? He has stayed abroad for so long…his accent is bound to change!’
Getting a wry look, he replied back, ‘He called you Rhino, instead of Rano…for goodness sake…even an Aboriginal Australian can pronounce better!’ :tong:
‘Stop being so fault-finding …and he is the best bet we have…plus come on, he looks smitten on Bani!’
‘He would…she looks gorgeous…he looks like a Starved Baboon! But have you noticed some difference in her…doesn’t she look too happy for a recently broken heart?’
Rano and Nachiket stared at Bani, laughing delightedly on a joke cracked by one of her cousins and they wondered!
Rano said doubtfully, ‘So that means Meera might be correct…it is that guy…’
‘What guy?’
‘My cousin Meera told me that she heard Bani speaking on the phone with someone in a very mysterious manner…and now a while ago she said Bani was the last to come to the Canopy…and she looked all…’
Rano hesitated, getting a bit embarrassed, remembering Meera’s rather lewd description of Bani’s ravaged state, said, ‘She looked a bit…you know…erm…disheveled!’
Nachiket gave a cold look at Rano and said, ‘That cousin of yours is a loud-mouthed tattletale and a fashion-plate to boot…anyone would look disheveled to her…poor Bani, she has been doing nothing but running around doing work from morning to night…and you think, she will find time for secret rendevouz in between all this?!’
Rano suddenly looked guilty and said, ‘Oh! I feel so bad for listening to that rumormonger! My poor Bunny…she is way too innocent and young for all those kind of things…’
They both made some sympathetic noises on how unsullied and childlike their Bani was and she probably didn’t even know anything about Birds and Bees! (Yes...and Bani Rani is khiloing gul on her Terrace with "that man")
‘Nachiket, Ma is calling me…listen, you go and deal with “that man” and make sure he and Bani don’t meet up…I don’t want her mood to be upset!’
Nachiket would have followed Rano’s instructions, but for Purva coming towards him and he forgot about everything else!
Pushkar was introduced around as the super-eligible vilaayati lad who had come down to India to find a bride. All the aunties, massi’s, chachi’s, bua’s and bhabhi’s goggled at him and tried to fix him up with any one of the young girls in their families. His sister-in-law Seema, kept boasting time and again, how so many ‘rishte’ keep coming for him from Kanpur and elsewhere and what a superb lad he was!
Nachiket had given a very critical look at Pushkar’s narrow chest, bleached skin and dangling legs and pronounced in a droll way, ‘He looks anemic to me…’ only to be hushed by Rano!
While some girls, especially the platoon from Kanpur seemed to think that Pushkar was nothing less than a hunk, that too an imported one, he looked bored with all the girls, till his eyes fell on the lovely Bani, who was glowing with happiness and love...and looked absolutely bewitching! He was completely smitten and asked Seema to make an introduction, who gave a disparaging look at Bani and making noises that her nose was too long and she wasn’t all that fair complexioned, nevertheless, got Pushkar and Bani talking.
Bani was an excellent host and very sweetly greeted him, but beyond that he couldn’t get anywhere around her! After much boasting and bragging about himself, he finally gave up trying to impress her, because she simply was in a world of her own, barely listening to his heavily accented English and just nodding on everything and saying, good and great and how lovely in frequent intervals.
He would have been happy under the assumption that she was actually a good listener and was appreciating his many virtues, had’t it been for one piece of conversation which assured him that either the girl was deaf or completely ignoring him!
‘You know Borney…I had gone to Kanpur last year…so dirty…so filthy…can’t imagine how people live like cattles…but I had to come…because my poor, old grandmother, after suffering a long, serious illness for the last five years or so…
Bani who’s eyes were on the front door of her house, trying to figure out a way to go inside where the men had gathered and probably sneak in a rendevouz with Jai once again, looked at Pushkar speaking in a misery filled montone, ‘and by faux pas, I took out her Oxygen mask to speak with her…and she passed away immediately.’
Suddenly paying attention to him, she blinked her eyes and wondered what on Earth Pushkar must have been talking to her for so long, she just said with a big smile on her face, ‘Really? That is such great news! Your parent’s must be so proud of your achievement! Keep up the good work!’ ;)
Leaving a shocked Pushkar open-mouthed, Bani wandered off somewhere else! (Just imagine Naman Shaw in this scene...with his cocker-spaniel type hair and puppy eyes...)
Jai excused himself from the gathering on pretext of a smoke and caught up with a rosy and flushed looking Bani underneath the Gulmohar Tree, which had been hidden from view because of the Canopy and kissed her scrumptiously again. She threw a huge tantrum on his arduous assaults in the middle of a family function, that too at her own house, right under the nose of her Mother and scores of relatives... but two passionate stolen kisses on one night, made her so ecstatic and blissful that she was in high spirits once again, as she re-entered the Sangeet Arena, dancing and singing, making Rano and Nachiket really wonder if she was indeed nursing a broken heart!
To be continued…
In the next part...Hulk (JW), Elmo (Nachiket) and Kanpuriya Vilaayati Babu (Pushkar) come face to face...
Today evening was Ladies Sangeet at Dixit House and a red and yellow colored canopy had been erected in the lawns. There was a lot of bonhomie and cheer in the atmosphere, with dozens of women chirping, gossiping and laughing around.
Nachiket was wandering like a homeless waif in and out of the house, trying to locate Bani when Saahil gave running to him and said, ‘Natoo Bhaiyaa? Rano Di is calling you upstairs…’
‘Oh…okay, I’ll go! And don’t call me Natoo!’ He waded through the throngs of women, dressed in glittery silks, crepes and chiffons and made his way upstairs. The place looked upside down, with the Flower-vendor still doing his decorations, Kiran running from pillar to post, shouting out instructions to Bani, who was nowhere to be seen, Massi trying to keep an eye on Mango, who was extremely jumpy and excited to see so many people in his house and Aditya looking very happy with life, sitting in the midst of some women, telling them jokes and getting pink in the face, when they laughed and flirted with him.
Met with a permanently suspicious looking Meera at the door, Nachiket coughed politely and interrupted the gathering, a bevy of young girls, cousins and friends broke out giggling madly when they saw him in their midst.
‘This better be good, Rano…’ he muttered, as she came out, still in the process of getting dressed up for the Sangeet and took him to a corner of the room.
‘Nachiket…I found the perfect guy!’
He rolled his eyes and said, ‘Is this why you called me up here? You have been singing the same tune since you got engaged to Ranveer. We all know you have found the perfect guy. Now tell me have you seen Bani somewhere?’
She gave an impatient snort and said, ‘No dumbo…I am not talking about Ranveer…The perfect guy for Bani!’
‘What? Where did you find him? And when did you find him? I can’t see any men in this house except Adi Chachu and that bozo, Saahil…’
Rano’s eyes gleamed in anticipation and she whispered into his ears, ‘He is coming tonight…you will see him at the Sangeet Function!’
‘Now, you’ve got me curious…so who is he?’
She grinned, showing off her pearly whites and said, ‘He is a distant relative…from Kanpur!’
‘Kanpur?Are you crazy? I knew the wedding preparations have taken a toll on you…A guy from Kanpur to make Jai Walia jealous…’
‘Will you stop interrupting and listen to me? His family is from Kanpur, they are my Nani’s neighbours and very close family friends…the guy works in UK and is in India for holidays…basically on a bride-hunt…and guess what, he is coming tonight with his parents for the Sangeet…and they will be here till the wedding!’
Nachiket looked excited and said, ‘Ooh…now that sounds good! So how is this chap? Considering we are pitting him against the Hulk!’
Rano paused and getting a thoughtful expression said, ‘Well…to be honest, I don’t remember him much…we saw him many years back in Kanpur…then he used to have a runny nose all the time and also he kept farting a lot…’
Nachiket burst out laughing, ‘Snotty and Smelly…Wow! Won’t Bani be thrilled to know about her Prince Charming?’ :tong:
Rano hit Nachiket in his ribs and said, ‘Stop being so funny…he was a kid then…he is a grown up man now…and an NRI to boot!’
Nachiket controlled his laughter and asked, ‘So what’s Mr. Farty’s name?’
She glared at him and then grinning in anticipation of playing cupid said, ‘Pushkar Shukla!’
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Nachiket finally managed to locate Bani who was on the terrace, trying to instruct the electrician to put the fairy lights in a way that her Mother had wanted.
When she saw him coming, she grinned and said, ‘Yes…Yes…Your Purva is coming tonight! She confirmed just a while ago on phone!’
He smiled and said, ‘Hey, I just came to ask if you need any help!’
‘Liar…I know you have been dying to ask me if I have invited Purva or not!’
Nachiket blushed and scratched his head the way he always did when he got embarrassed.
He told her to go downstairs and get dressed, while he handled the Electrician!
‘Btw, there is a surprise coming for you this evening!’
Bani turned to look at him and said, ‘Surprise!’ and then pausing for a moment added, ‘Oh God…don’t tell me that you are planning to pick up a fight with Jai! Please tell me, No!’
‘Jai? I am not talking about “that man”!’
‘Nachiket…you too? I think Rano’s company is influencing you too much! So what is the surprise?’
He grinned and did a jig standing where he was and said, ‘Prince Charming…and his nose is no longer runny and hopefully he’s stopped farting too!’
She looked bemused and thinking being in love again is playing havocs with his mental state, shrugged her head and hopped downstairs…
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It was close to 8 in the evening and all the women had gathered on the lawns for the Sangeet Function to begin. The men of the house, which included some male relatives and of course, Aditya, Nachiket, Tarun and some of Ranveer’s close relatives were assembled in the drawing room.
Kiran had asked Aditya to personally call up Jai and request him to come for the evening gathering.
Bani was the last one left in her room, tied up with work till the end moment, she was now sitting in front of the mirror and getting dressed up. She wondered if Jai would come tonight…it was a Sangeet Function and he hardly knew Aditya well enough to attend the Men’s gathering.
Hoping against hope that she would get to see him tonight, she dressed carefully in a low-waisted, peach colored lehenga, spangled with moon dust all over it worn over an all-strings mirror-work choli. Bani had always been very conservative in her choice of clothes, but in this dress, which was traditional yet very s**y, she felt so sure of herself, so beautiful…so desired! Her cheeks matched the color of her dress, and tying her hair in a long plait, she pinned lots of jasmine flowers onto them, humming a song under her breath, ‘Bhanware ki gunjan hain mera dil…’
While still getting dressed, she heard a bit of commotion downstairs…a lot of squealing and hugging and excitement was going on apparently…and Rano’s voice was most prominent…surely, given the state of her anger towards “that man” it couldn’t be Jai who had come. She took the chiffon duppata with her and wrapped it clumsily over her, to go and peep out.
It wasn’t Jai, she noticed disappointed. There was a middle-aged man, a woman roughly her mother’s age and a young man, whose face she couldn’t see clearly.
Rano who had come in to meet them, was acting all excited yet coy at the same moment, as she touched that Uncle and Aunty’s feet and grinned in a funny manner at the young chap. Bani wondered who that could be!
Bani finished dressing up and before going down to join the others; she heard some strange noises coming from the Terrace, like someone was stamping on the floor of the terrace! Wondering who could be upstairs, since everyone had gathered down, she decided to run a quick check, worrying that there were so many valuables and people in the house; she could not risk a chance.
It was dark and cold and she shivered when a light breeze blew, tingling her exposed skin. There was no one around, only the sound of singing and chatter of noises came from the lawns below.
Shrugging her head in confusion, since she felt sure she had heard distinct noises, she made her way down the staircase, when a pair of muscular arms enclosed her waist and she almost screamed out in horror, before a palm went around her mouth and clasped it.
‘Ssshhhh…its me!’ Gasping for breath and scared out of her life, she swerved to see the direction of the voice and her heart skipped a beat, when she saw Jai, winking at her.
‘Jai?’ her voice came out incredulous.
‘Who else would dare to hold you in this way?’ he retorted teasingly.
Blushing profusely, she said, ‘You scared the life out of me…and what on earth are you doing on the Terrace? When did you even come home? How come I never saw? And…’
‘Okay…Okay…One by one, lady!’ he slipped both his arms around her waist and pulled her playfully towards him, till she fell on his chest.
Staring at her for sometime, he planted a kiss on her forehead and said, ‘You look gorgeous…’ It was a simple statement, but the timbre in his voice made her go hot and cold at the same time.
The Terrace was shrouded in darkness, only the faint glow of the fairy lights and the pale shadow of full moon alighted them both. The sound of music and laughter could be heard from below.
Catching her breath, she said in panic, her voice coming out a bit squeaky and shy, ‘everyone must be wondering where I am…someone will come up…someone might see us…’
He had his back against the wall of the Terrace and was holding Bani securely in his arms; he smiled at her worried expression and took in her beauty with languorous ease …
‘Why are you looking at me like this?’ her voice came out timorous and coy.
‘I thought I was allowed to look at you…’ his fingers were curving a knot of hair which had come loose from her plait and whenever his fingers made contact with her skin, she shivered some more.
Lowering her eyes, she smiled shyly and he bent his head towards her face, his warm breath caressing her face as he bit her earlobe gently and trailed down the exposed curve of her slender neck, reaching her chin, planting innumerous kisses, some playful, some demanding, some igniting…
His fingers slid from her hair to her exposed back and he fiddled with the strings of her blouse, before she could protest, he had covered her mouth and beginning gently with the side of her lips, he planted a feathery kiss and then got exploring and intimate, refusing to let her go.
When he finally withdrew himself from her, she was so smitten and mesmerized with his sensual touch that she failed to hear Saahil’s footsteps coming on the Terrace and only when his sing song voice called out, ‘Bani di…Bani di…’ that the realization came.
Panicking in frenzy, she drew herself back from Jai, almost jumping in nervous tension, ‘Oh God…Saahil is coming here…what I shall do…where I shall hide…help me…Jai…’
He kept looking at her, grinning and then laughing at her sudden change of manners…and waving his hand casually, handed over her duppata back to her, which had been caught entangled in his hands, during their passionate encounter.
‘My choli…’ she squealed, as she realized it was coming off loose and then saw his wicked smile, hitting him playfully on his arms, tried to tie it with despair and then gave him a pleading look.
‘I can only open it for free…there is a payment to be made for tying it back…’ :whistling
Turning crimson, she begged, ‘Please Jai…someone is coming…’
Raising his hands in appeasement, he came near her and tied up the strings he had opened and only let her run towards the door, after he had forcibly kissed her once again on her lips. (Abhi se yeh haal hain...
)Blushing some more, she stood foolishly, not knowing what to do, till he pushed her towards the door and said quietly, ‘I’ll be down in the hall with the others. Go!’
The moment she came out of the Terrace, she found Saahil standing there looking perplexed, ‘Di…what are you doing here? Kiran Massi has been looking for you…she is so angry…and so is Rano Di…come na!’ Making some calming noises, she proceeded to leave, looking back, wondering how on Earth Jai would get down from the Terrace and also how he ever got there in the first place.
As soon as Bani entered the Canopy, Meera noticed her and said, ‘Where the hell were you, Bani? Everyone is asking for you…and why is your lipstick all smudged? Haven’t I told you, first you apply the lipliner and then fill in the color…’
‘And your hair looks a bit untidy…and goodness, one string of your choli is undone…what were you doing? Arm-wrestling?’
Bani blushed deeply and mentally cursed Meera for being such an observant, suspicious shrew! She drew a deep breath and remembering that offence was the best form of defence, said haughtily, ‘Yes, I was arm-wrestling…happy!?’
Before Bani had a chance to get away from her, Meera’s expression became more suspicious and coming near her, touched her ear and said, ‘And it seems you forgot one of your earrings with the Wrestler!’
Taking in Bani’s flushed visage, Meera gave a high-pitched and shrill laughter and patting Bani away, wondered whoever was found with the other pair of the earring was the mystery man in Bani’s life. Without wasting any time, she went and whispered the whole thing in Rano’s ears.
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Jai was left behind smiling and holding one of the unclasped earrings in his hands. Very coolly, he walked down to the other end of the Terrace and with the help of the drainage pipe, slided down as noiselessly as he had come up. The Pipe landed him on the parapet of the kitchen window, from there he had a quick look to see if there was no one around and he jumped onto the lawns, hidden from view because of the Canopy and coolly, scaling the wall, got out and dusted his clothes.
Taking a deep breath and with an expression of nonchalance, he proceeded to walk all around the side walls and reach the front of Dixit House and get in, like any normal guest!
Good thing, few people knew that he had been a champion obstacle race runner in his school days and scaling walls and climbing down from pipes was Childs play to him. He wondered how Bani would react when she got to know of his particular skills that he had brought to full use tonight!
He made a quiet entry, dressed in his Office clothes, with just his Tie taken off and when Aditya saw him, he welcomed him warmly. Only the men were assembled in the hall downstairs and Jai made him comfortable in a corner of the room.
Kiran had bumped into Jai when he was walking in and a bit daunted at facing Bani’s mother, after the rather heated encounter on the Terrace with her daugther, he stammered a bit on his words, when she asked him delightedly, ‘Jai…it is so nice of you to take out time and come for today’s function…where are you coming from?’
He gagged a bit and said, ‘Er…Office, straight from my Office!’ :whistling (He forgot to add, with a detour to your Terrace!)
Kiran smiled and said, ‘Yes, I can see that…but so late? Now this won’t do for the wedding, I want you at my home from morning…no fleeting appearances! Alright?’
He had the grace to smile and make some courteous small talk and heaving a breath of relief, vanished from her view, when she was taken up with some other guests who just arrived!
Liking him because he was a close family friend’s son did one thing…letting him get away with the fact that he was fooling around with her daughter in her house, right under her nose, was certainly something else!
Quick introductions were made and Jai settled down to chat with Tarun and Ranveer’s father.
Tarun who was sharing a joke with one of the guests, suddenly looked at Jai and said, ‘Jai…why are your lips glowing?’
‘What?’
‘I don’t know…something on them…like glitter…something sparkling!’
Jai quickly wiped off his lips and smiling in a cool manner, replied, ‘Oh nothing…the winter air dries my lips…I borrowed some chapstic from Stella…’
Tarun looked strangely at Jai, thoroughly skeptical at his reply.
Nachiket who had been going in and out of the Canopy where all the women were assembled to try and meet Purva was visibly shocked to see Jai sitting comfortably in the Living room of the Dixits!
Forgetting all about his threats and promises of punching Jai on his face, he ran outside and straight into the Pandal and with great difficulty, was able to speak with Rano, who was surrounded by a lot of giggling and singing women.
Ignoring the stares and mutters of the women, he whispered into her ears, ‘Rano…that man is here!’
Rano turned to look at him with wide eyes and said, ‘The audacity of him…after trying to murder my sister…he has the guts to come here?’
Nachiket looked seriously in doubt and regretted exaggerating what Bani had told him…from being accused of dragging Bani, to hitting her with a hammer, Jai was now being accused of trying to murder Bani…this did not sound good at all!
‘Whatever…but we have put our plan into action…where is that creature from UK?’
Rano and Nachiket looked around surreptiously, much to Bani’s amusement, who wondered what on Earth were they gossiping around all the time, especially, as she had hardly ever seen them talking before!
Rano hissed back into his ears, ‘Don’t speak of him like that…he might be the future son-in-law of this house…’
‘Why? Are you planning to divorce Ranveer already!’
Rano hit Nachiket on his head and said, ‘No stupid…the son-in-law for the younger daughter! Isn’t he a doll?’
Nachiket rolled his eyes in remembrance when just a while back, they had been introduced to Pushkar Shukla and his family! His parents were nice, normal people and also his elder brother was okay, bit hen-pecked though…but his sister-in-law, a lady called Seema and Pushkar himself were a period piece in themselves!
‘Rano, he kept calling me Naughty-kid instead of Nachiket…’
She giggled and getting a bashful expression again, when some ladies looked towards her, whispered back into his ears, ‘So what? He has stayed abroad for so long…his accent is bound to change!’
Getting a wry look, he replied back, ‘He called you Rhino, instead of Rano…for goodness sake…even an Aboriginal Australian can pronounce better!’ :tong:
‘Stop being so fault-finding …and he is the best bet we have…plus come on, he looks smitten on Bani!’
‘He would…she looks gorgeous…he looks like a Starved Baboon! But have you noticed some difference in her…doesn’t she look too happy for a recently broken heart?’
Rano and Nachiket stared at Bani, laughing delightedly on a joke cracked by one of her cousins and they wondered!
Rano said doubtfully, ‘So that means Meera might be correct…it is that guy…’
‘What guy?’
‘My cousin Meera told me that she heard Bani speaking on the phone with someone in a very mysterious manner…and now a while ago she said Bani was the last to come to the Canopy…and she looked all…’
Rano hesitated, getting a bit embarrassed, remembering Meera’s rather lewd description of Bani’s ravaged state, said, ‘She looked a bit…you know…erm…disheveled!’
Nachiket gave a cold look at Rano and said, ‘That cousin of yours is a loud-mouthed tattletale and a fashion-plate to boot…anyone would look disheveled to her…poor Bani, she has been doing nothing but running around doing work from morning to night…and you think, she will find time for secret rendevouz in between all this?!’
Rano suddenly looked guilty and said, ‘Oh! I feel so bad for listening to that rumormonger! My poor Bunny…she is way too innocent and young for all those kind of things…’
They both made some sympathetic noises on how unsullied and childlike their Bani was and she probably didn’t even know anything about Birds and Bees! (Yes...and Bani Rani is khiloing gul on her Terrace with "that man")
‘Nachiket, Ma is calling me…listen, you go and deal with “that man” and make sure he and Bani don’t meet up…I don’t want her mood to be upset!’
Nachiket would have followed Rano’s instructions, but for Purva coming towards him and he forgot about everything else!
Pushkar was introduced around as the super-eligible vilaayati lad who had come down to India to find a bride. All the aunties, massi’s, chachi’s, bua’s and bhabhi’s goggled at him and tried to fix him up with any one of the young girls in their families. His sister-in-law Seema, kept boasting time and again, how so many ‘rishte’ keep coming for him from Kanpur and elsewhere and what a superb lad he was!
Nachiket had given a very critical look at Pushkar’s narrow chest, bleached skin and dangling legs and pronounced in a droll way, ‘He looks anemic to me…’ only to be hushed by Rano!
While some girls, especially the platoon from Kanpur seemed to think that Pushkar was nothing less than a hunk, that too an imported one, he looked bored with all the girls, till his eyes fell on the lovely Bani, who was glowing with happiness and love...and looked absolutely bewitching! He was completely smitten and asked Seema to make an introduction, who gave a disparaging look at Bani and making noises that her nose was too long and she wasn’t all that fair complexioned, nevertheless, got Pushkar and Bani talking.
Bani was an excellent host and very sweetly greeted him, but beyond that he couldn’t get anywhere around her! After much boasting and bragging about himself, he finally gave up trying to impress her, because she simply was in a world of her own, barely listening to his heavily accented English and just nodding on everything and saying, good and great and how lovely in frequent intervals.
He would have been happy under the assumption that she was actually a good listener and was appreciating his many virtues, had’t it been for one piece of conversation which assured him that either the girl was deaf or completely ignoring him!
‘You know Borney…I had gone to Kanpur last year…so dirty…so filthy…can’t imagine how people live like cattles…but I had to come…because my poor, old grandmother, after suffering a long, serious illness for the last five years or so…
Bani who’s eyes were on the front door of her house, trying to figure out a way to go inside where the men had gathered and probably sneak in a rendevouz with Jai once again, looked at Pushkar speaking in a misery filled montone, ‘and by faux pas, I took out her Oxygen mask to speak with her…and she passed away immediately.’
Suddenly paying attention to him, she blinked her eyes and wondered what on Earth Pushkar must have been talking to her for so long, she just said with a big smile on her face, ‘Really? That is such great news! Your parent’s must be so proud of your achievement! Keep up the good work!’ ;)
Leaving a shocked Pushkar open-mouthed, Bani wandered off somewhere else! (Just imagine Naman Shaw in this scene...with his cocker-spaniel type hair and puppy eyes...)
Jai excused himself from the gathering on pretext of a smoke and caught up with a rosy and flushed looking Bani underneath the Gulmohar Tree, which had been hidden from view because of the Canopy and kissed her scrumptiously again. She threw a huge tantrum on his arduous assaults in the middle of a family function, that too at her own house, right under the nose of her Mother and scores of relatives... but two passionate stolen kisses on one night, made her so ecstatic and blissful that she was in high spirits once again, as she re-entered the Sangeet Arena, dancing and singing, making Rano and Nachiket really wonder if she was indeed nursing a broken heart!
To be continued…
In the next part...Hulk (JW), Elmo (Nachiket) and Kanpuriya Vilaayati Babu (Pushkar) come face to face...
