GIFT OF LOVE
Part I – Prologue
Bani finally managed to complete the Rangoli which had been holding her attention since the last one hour. Dusting the color of her hands, she unknowingly wiped her face of the little beads of sweat that had appeared.
Hurrying towards the kitchen, she mentally ticked off the work that had been completed and fretted as usual on the chores that were remaining.
This was a great topic of amusement for everyone in the family…despite a posse of help at home, she insisted on laboring herself, especially if it concerned her husband.
Jai, despite his exasperation on her part, took quiet but immense pride in his wife. For everything that Bani touched turned into something special, more so, if she was doing something for him.
Having been married for the last five years, Jai had experienced such happiness and bliss, which had been deemed impossible by him till a few years ago. An unhappy childhood which saw his Mother dying very early and the responsibility for his siblings falling on him, since there father was too busy managing the business, followed by a disastrous affair that marred his youth, marriage had just been the last thing on his mind. Following his Father’s death, work had occupied every corner of his heart and mind for the next couple of years and after marrying off his sister and settling his younger brother, Jai had been contended to lead a quiet, bachelor’s life, shifting in between the solitude of his rambling mansion and the vast business conglomerate that he headed, in Mumbai.
And then, Bani happened.
There’s had been an arranged marriage. Both of them belonged to very traditional families, where marrying out of love or choice was quite unheard of. More so, in the Dixit family, in which his wife had been the eldest of three daughters, belonging to a middle-class but immensely respectable family from Mount Abu.
A chance meeting between his maternal aunt and Bani’s family at a common acquaintance’s wedding had sparked off a series of visits from both sides and Jai, after being happily duped by his whole family, had ended up ‘seeing’ Bani at her home.
He had been furious till then, having been made to wait for almost 3 hours by that chit of a girl and he had a good mind to give her a sounding off before leaving, the question of marriage to someone like her did not even arise.
He could never forget the first time he had seen her, thoroughly drenched by the rain, shivering violently from the cold and holding that impetuous look in her deep-seated, expressive eyes.
It had been love at first sight. A very hilarious and purposeless talk between them had only strengthened his conviction and Jai proposed marriage to Bani there and then, without thinking anymore, which was very antithetical to his nature.
She had been all wrong for him and even though it was more than half a decade that they had been married and anointed the ‘perfect couple’ by everyone who knew them, Jai always felt that it was only God’s will that they ever got together, because as far as he knew, they shared nothing in common.
Jai had been born into tremendous wealth and influence, being the eldest son of a prominent Industrialist family and the heir apparent to the business empire. Discipline and obedience was drilled into him right from the beginning, by his ambitious father, deliberately keeping Jai away from his mother’s indulgence and cosseting, so that he might grow up to be as ruthless and ambitious as his father. Hence, despite having a complete family, Jai grew up to be more or less to be a loner, respected, feared and admired by both his friends and foes, but too distant and aloof to be really loved by any.
Bani on the other hand grew up in an extended join family, comprising of her parents, elder brother, sister-in-law, nephew and her two younger sisters. Pampered, loved and protected by everyone, she grew up in an atmosphere of warmth and affection, bound by tradition yet spirited and individualistic.
The initial few days of their marriage had been a disaster, so much so, that they had both sought a legal separation…but time worked its magic and before they both knew, the two strangers had become soul mates.
Year 1 of Marriage
Nishikant and Kiran Dixit, along with their youngest daughter, Rano were visiting Bani for the first time after her marriage, as it the norm in their community, to take her back for the oncoming Teej Festival to be celebrated in her Mother’s home. They were both seeing her daughter’s home for the first time and even though Nishikant quietly prided on the splendor and richness of Walia Mansion, Kiran could barely stop herself from gushing out loud, on her daughter’s good fortune, which included not only a house of dreams but a dream-like husband too.
‘Ma…’ yelped Bani and came rushing to hug her tightly and Kiran caught in between staring at the beautiful interiors and giddy with happiness at seeing her beloved daughter after such a long gap. Bani bent down to touch her parent’s feet, but her Mother, the traditionalist that she was, immediately stopped her and said, ‘Arre no, Beta…now you cannot touch our feet…married girls don’t do that.’
Then seeing the quiet and shy Rano standing behind, Bani squealed some more in excitement and proceeded to bear hug her youngest sibling, who cribbed about how Bani had forgotten her post-marriage.
Bani with all docility seated her parent’s in the living room and proceeded to get them water, but this time, was stopped by her Father, who said, ‘Nahin beta…we cannot have anything from your house…don’t you remember how your Pallavi Bhabhi’s parent’s never even touched water when they came to our house.’
Bani replied sadly, ‘What papa! You have come to see me after 12 whole months and now I cannot touch your feet, I cannot get you anything to eat or drink…’
Both Nishikant and Kiran laughed in response and the mother while wiping the tears of joy from her eyes, patted her daughter’s cheeks affectionately and said, ‘This is the way things are, beta…you will know, the day you become a Mother.’
Bani immediately blushed crimson and in a flustered manner, requested her parents to be comfortable while she fetched her husband from their bedroom, where he was apparently still sleeping, and 10 in the morning. But then, today was Sunday, Jai’s day off from work.
As soon as she disappeared, Kiran had tears flowing some more from her eyes and turning to look at her husband she said, ‘Please remind me to ward off the evil eye on Bani…I have never seen her look more beautiful….so happy…’
Nishikant who was quietly pondering on the radiance that spelt out on his most beloved child’s face agreed and said, ‘Yes…we made the correct choice for her…Jai is the perfect husband for our daughter.’
While Bani was away, Kiran looked around the room and could not help thinking and getting excited about going back to Mount Abu and recounting about her daughter’s magnificent home in Mumbai. Rano looked excitedly at the volumes of books that were kept in a corner of the large living area and went hurriedly towards that end.
Bani went inside her room, shutting the heavy Oak door behind her and smiling faintly, as she saw the sprawled figure of her husband on the four poster bed, front down, head buried under the pillow and the duvet covering him three-fourth’s. His clothes were strewn across the thickly carpeted floor below the bed and his shoes flung somewhere carelessly.
Bani shook her head, half in exasperation and half in amusement and proceeded to tidy them quickly.
The clothes and shoes were an everyday occurrence and she normally tidied it up first thing in the morning, but today she was too excited at the prospect of meeting her parent’s and hence forgot about the mess in the room.
The bed looked rumpled enough to resemble a football field and Bani reddened at the thought of yesterday night’s passionate encounter between that took place between her husband and her. Not that it was anything new, but weekends seemed to fuel an extra bout of energy into Jai and they ended up waking up till the wee hours of morning, laughing, talking, arguing or simply making love till both were too exhausted to even open their eyes till late morning the next day.
Despite many pleas of letting her sleep early, since she wanted to be up early to receive her parents, Jai had refused to see reason and ended up making her laugh uproariously recounting some anecdotes related to his work and then proceeded to kiss her for so long and so fiercely, that her lips had been swollen and hurt.
Though Jai kept cribbing about his ‘advancing years’ and how he did not seem to have the same stamina as before, Bani always teased him saying that she never saw any dipping of energy levels when it came to their weekend sessions.
In response, Jai had only drawn her closer and set about putting a seal of approval on her very correct observation.
Bani drew the silk curtains apart, letting warm sunlight fill every corner of their spacious bedroom. Jai who had thrown the pillow somewhere on the floor, squinted his eyes with irritation and yelled, ‘Bani…close the damn curtains.’
She ignored his protest, going near the bed and poking him on his bare back. ‘Get up.’
He rubbed his eyes some more and without bothering to open them, said, ‘Shut up and let me sleep.’
She shook him up a bit more but it made no difference to Jai, since his built was so massive and strong, that it would have taken at least 3 more like Bani to make him move from his position. ‘Get up’ she cried again.
Jai opened his eyes a bit, protecting them from the light that was pouring in and looking at his beautiful wife, hid the smile that came on his face and said teasingly, ‘You are such a nag…even on a weekend, won’t leave me in peace.’
Without missing a beat, Bani answered playfully, ‘And you are such a tyrant…even though I kept begging; you won’t let me sleep early.’
‘How dare you answer me back?’ Jai asked in mock-anger.
Sitting on the bed, Bani leaned downwards to give Jai a peck on his cheeks and said affectionately, ‘This is what happens when you love your wife so much…she begins to think that she had every right over her husband.’
Jai kept staring at her and slowly smiled, answering back in a husky voice, ‘And by Jove she has….’
Before Bani could say anything, he took her in both his arms and pulled her over his torso, kissing her softly on her lips and without letting go of her mouth, pushed her back down on the bed, putting his legs over her so that she wouldn’t be able to get up.
‘Nooo…’ Bani let out in a muffled voice, dreading the prospect of having one of her parent’s come over to the room, wondering why she was taking so long. Jai had started unbuttoning her blouse, when she said, ‘Pa…Ma…leave me…’
Jai lifted his head a little bit from her face and said, ‘So not the right time to remember your parents…you are killing the moment…’
Bani gasped, taking in gulps of breath and trying to look annoyed at Jai, but to no avail. She began laughing, which only worked up Jai more, since he found her laughter to be a great turn on and said, ‘Okay…now you are gone, Mrs. Walia.’ Pulling the Sari off her body, he began kissing her fiercely from the tip of her chin, trailing down the neck, tickling her in the process and evoking more delighted laughter from her, till she squealed, ‘Ma and Papa are downstairs…’
‘What?’ Jai lifted his head from the hollow of her neck, looking bewildered and then disappointed.
‘What sort of a reaction is that? Is that how I behave when my in-laws come?’
Jai gave a lazy grin in response and said, ‘Achha meri Ma…forgive me…now, can I get up and get ready to greet my respected in-laws!’
Planting a swift kiss on his cheeks, she got up from the bed and straightened her Sari, and rattled off instructions. ‘I have put toothpaste on your brush, your shaver is plugged and your bath is filled. Your clothes are kept on the couch, Coffee and Newspaper are available downstairs.’
Jai stared at her for sometime and said, ‘I hope you know that I get a terrible complex just being near you!’
Bani was tidying the Bed and she looked at him in astonishment and said, ‘Why?’
‘You are not only the most beautiful woman I have known in my entire life, but also the most efficient…and that mind you, in my experience of women, is a very rare combination.’
Bani smiled at him and then making a cross face said, ‘I will take that compliment but I don’t want to hear any mentions of the ‘other women’ in your life.’
Jai raised his hands in a reconciliatory manner and holding Bani from her waist, whispered into her ears, ‘Does it look as if there would be any other woman in my life apart from you?’
She blushed pink with pleasure and knowing from experience where such talks normally led to, pushed him with great difficulty towards the bathroom.
Bani came down to inform her parents that Jai would be down in a minute, though she knew that his body clock worked extraordinarily slow on Sunday’s. Though she knew that her parents wouldn’t have anything to eat, she went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for Jai and Rano.
While Bani was cutting some vegetables to make bread-rolls which were Rano’s favorite, Kiran came inside the kitchen and just quietly watched Bani engrossed in the work, doing many things at the same time, looking extremely pre-occupied.
Kiran’s eyes filled with tears, seeing her daughter so happy and settled so well in domesticity. She had been very worried during the time of her wedding, since Bani had thrown a huge tantrum before agreeing to marry Jai, but seeing her in front of her eyes, all the concern and anxiety vanished in a second.
Bani suddenly noticed her Mother’s presence in the kitchen and smiled back at her in an absent manner, putting the mixed fruit she had just cut into neat pieces, in a crystal bowl inside the fridge to chill before serving it for Jai.
‘He doesn’t like to eat fried food…so I always keep a bowl of fruits ready.’ Bani explained in a chatty manner to Kiran, checking the oil was ready for frying the bread-rolls.
‘Bani, are you happy in the marriage with Jai?’ Kiran asked simply, more like a statement rather than a question.
Bani stopped chopping the coriander and stared at her Mother, speechless for some time and then color suffused both her cheeks, which evoked a knowing smile from her Mother, making Bani fluster and blush absolutely.
‘Ma…aap bhi…’ Bani mumbled, feeling very shy and lowering her head to put her full concentration on chopping the coriander.
Kiran’s smile widened and she said, holding Bani by her shoulder, ‘I don’t need your answer…your face says it all.’
Bani’s cheeks were a flaming crimson now and she felt very relieved when Rano came hopping in, after making a few rounds of the house and marveling in its beauty and structure.
‘Di, your house is so beautiful…it’s so big…how do you clean it when it’s the maid’s day off?’
Bani laughed and patting Rano on her head replied back jokingly, ‘As long as your Jeejaji doesn’t notice, I don’t bother cleaning it.’
Rano who took everything in life with utter seriousness looked wounded by the fact that her much idolized elder sister could be so callous with regard to her house-keeping skills.
By the time, Bani laid the breakfast table, with help from Bhavesh, who came in late on Sunday’s, Jai had come downstairs, dressed informally in a half-sleeve polo t-shirt in white and a pair of old denim jeans, which was a source of constant argument between both Jai and Bani, who insisted on putting it in the laundry for a wash every week.
Nishikant and Kiran’s face alighted with affection when they saw their son-in-law, who bent down to touch both their feet and then was hugged with much love and adoration. Bani glanced at her husband and smiled and he winked back in response, when the parents were not looking, making Bani grin.
Jai tried to persuade his in-laws to eat something, but did not lay too much stress, understanding their adhering to traditions. Rano sat down to have breakfast and felt extremely shy and bashful of Jai, when he asked her about her school. She saw him in great awe and behaved in a very formal and respectful manner towards him, which amused Jai, since Bani’s other sister, Raashi, was the complete opposite and was very comfortable talking to Jai.
Bani served some fruits to her parent’s, telling them in between laughter that it was gifted by some friend’s of Jai and hence not technically from their daughter’s house and they could have at least that.
Nishikant talked in great detail with Jai regarding his work and how they were looking forward to him and Bani coming down to Mount Abu for a few days.
‘Accha beta, I think its time for us to leave…thank you so much for the hospitality.’ Kiran got up and thanked Jai, who looked as surprised as Bani and said, ‘But Ma, you have just come, how can you leave so soon. Besides, Karuna and Nachiket would love to meet you all.’
Nishikant smiled and said, ‘Yes, we would surely meet them before leaving for Mount Abu, but for now, we are going to my cousin’s house, where we are staying.’
Bani tried her best to persuade both her parents to stay at her home, but they insisted gently that they could not do so, though Rano could stay if she wanted to.
When Jai took out the Car to drop them both to their relative’s house, Kiran smiled benignly and addressed to Jai, ‘So, when do you want Bani to come back?’
Jai looked bewildered and said, ‘I am sorry, but come back from where?’
Kiran looked equally confused and said, ‘From Mount Abu…she will be coming with us tomorrow…’ Sensing the look of utter astonishment on Jai’s face, Kiran continued in an unsure voice, ‘Its Bani’s first Teej…a newly married girl is supposed to celebrate it in her Mother’s home…I thought Bani knew about it and must have told you.’
Bani who had just come out to see off her parents, at first looked confused and then embarrassed and then worried, taking in Jai’s expression, who stared at her questioningly.
Kiran looked at Bani and said lovingly, ‘Beta, didn’t you tell our Damadji about Teej…I wrote to you last month, that your Papa and I will come to take you home for three weeks….’
Jai almost gasped and blurted out in shock, ‘Three weeks?’
Bani went hot all over, when she remembered the letter that her Mother so painstakingly wrote to her in regular intervals and looking extremely guilty, said in a small voice, ‘Yes…I remember.’
Kiran felt relieved and regaining confidence in her voice said cheerfully, ‘So that is settled then…I will get Daksh, your Bua’s son to come and pick you up tomorrow…no need to bother Damadji. Your train ticket is with Papa.’
Bani was so petrified by Jai’s reaction, that she did not dare look at him at the moment, knowing what a ticking off she was going to get by him as soon as her parent’s left. And the morning itself, he had praised her for her efficiency. How could she forget about her Mother’s letter and more importantly, how could she forget talking about this trip to Jai?
Jai stormed off inside the house in silence, followed by an unusually quiet Bani and a chattering Rano, who insisted that Bani spend the rest of the day with her showing around the house, especially Jeejaji’s book collection.
Giving instructions to Bhavesh for lunch, she settled Rano down with a couple of books and something to much on and went to face Jai, who had locked himself in the Study.
Knocking thrice on the door, Bani did not get any response and she twiddled the edge of her Sari, wondering whether she should go inside or not. Though Jai was essentially a serious and reserved person by nature, he rarely lost his temper, unless his patience was tested and having experienced his bellowing rage on her once, Bani had no wish to evoke it again in this lifetime.
Just then Rano came hopping by, apparently getting a tour of the house by none other than loyal Bhavesh and not wanting to make her sister wonder why she was standing like a statue in front of her husband’s study, Bani took a deep breath in and went inside the study.
Jai was sitting on the leather armchair, engrossed in a thick volume that spread out on the enormous walnut colored desk in front of him. Hearing the door open and shut, he looked up, peering at Bani without any expression from his half-moon glasses, which Bani thought suited him a lot.
Coughing and clearing her throat nervously, Bani said in a low voice, ‘Am I disturbing you?’
He answered back tonelessly, ‘As a matter of fact, you are.’ Saying that he went back to browsing the tome, ignoring Bani.
Stunned by the snub, Bani stood at the door for sometime and then gathering courage, walked towards her husband and gingerly placed her hand on his shoulder and said in a soft voice, ‘I am sorry…’
Without lifting his head from the book, he retorted back, ‘For what?’
Bani kept looking at her husband, who made a great pretence of being engrossed in the book and a smile swept across her face, she wanted so desperately to hug him there and then. Instead she sat on the parquet floor, besides Jai’s chair and placed her head on his knees.
Jai glanced at her and said in the same annoyed vein, ‘This is not going to help.’
She looked up with innocent eyes and said in all sincerity, ‘But you always do it, when I am upset with you…’
Jai tried to glare down at Bani, but instead of reprimanding or being angry with her, begin laughing at her answer, shaking his head.
Lifting her swiftly off her waist, he made her sit on his lap and spoke in a wistful note, ‘I know you genuinely forgot to tell me about the letter…but how will that fact help me live here alone for three weeks, Bani?’
She was so taken in with the emotion in his voice, that tears sprung up with alacrity in her eyes and hugging back Jai, she said, ‘I won’t go with Ma and Papa….you tell them that you are not giving permission to let me go…’
Jai laughed shortly and pulling her cheeks said amusedly, ‘Very smart! You bungle up and then push me forward to cover for you. Forget it! They like me too much, I am not going to spoil my impression. If you don’t want to go, you should be the one telling them that.’
‘But how I can tell that to my parents? What will they think? Ma will be so hurt…’ Bani pleaded.
‘Well, she will be equally hurt if I refuse to let you go…and besides, I can’t do that…they are your parent’s…just because you are married, doesn’t mean, they have lost all their rights over you.’
Bani gazed at her husband for some time with moist eyes and touching his cheeks said, ‘Why do you have to be so nice all the time?’
Jai smiled softly and getting a flirtatious note in his voice said, ‘you are wrong…I am not nice all the time…’
Bani blushed at the meaning intended and hastily proceeded to get up from his lap, feeling shy and said, ‘I will call you everyday, twice…and will put up a list of all your things in the bedroom…and tell Bhavesh about your food…and request Karuna didi to visit you…and will tell Jatin to…’
Jai interrupted her flow of conversation and said, ‘Hang on…hang on…you might be going away from home for the first time after our marriage…I have had 32 years of experience staying alone…so don’t worry too much about me.’
Bani looked hurt and addressed Jai in an injured tone, ‘That was before…now you are not alone…you don’t even know where your socks are kept…or which suit you wear on which day…or what time you take your medicine…who is going to take care of all that?’
Jai kept looking at his wife in silence and then spoke slowly in an astonished sort of way, ‘Yes…that’s true…who will take care of me…now that you have spoilt me for life.’
Bani gave a moist smile and coming near Jai, kept her head on his chest and when he held her tightly in his arms, she did not struggle to let go, stating excuses of work or some imaginary peeping tom.
‘I will miss you…’ she said, sobbing quietly. Taking her face in his hand, Jai planted a feather-light kiss on her lips and said, ‘Look at it like a much needed break from me…now for a change, you will be able to sleep fitfully at night…and that too for a good 8 hours at a stretch.’
Bani went crimson at the comment and they both laughed, hugging one another.
Mumbai Central Railway Station
Jai had clearly never seen the insides of a Railway Station, which was apparent from the look of confusion and concern on his face, looking at the teeming crowd, jostling and pushing one another. He was thoroughly worried at the prospect of Bani travelling in the midst of all this, despite the assurance of Nishikant and Kiran that they would take extra care of Bani, since now she was his wife, and not just their daughter. Though Kiran absolutely adored Jai, she felt that her son-in-law was a wee bit paranoid when it concerned Bani and her safety, considering the relentless stream of questions he asked them about Train travel and how safe it was for a young woman to travel.
Having settled his wife, her parent’s and her sister in the compartment of the Mumbai-Jaipur Rajdhani, Jai wished them a safe journey and told Bani to call him as soon as they reached Mount Abu. Not that it needed any reminding from Jai’s part, because Bani had already repeated several times to him that she would call him up regularly along with instructions on his medicine dosage, his food, his clothes, his bath water and where his underwear was kept. Jai was so exasperated that he actually willed the train to leave a little sooner than scheduled.
The conductor had blown the whistle and the train was about to depart, getting up from the seat, he touched Nishikant and Kiran’s feet and blessed Rano when she touched his feet, looked at Bani with great love and said bye to her.
She had her eyes filled to the brim and she walked till the door with Jai, who had made Bani promise that she won’t venture near the compartment door alone, as if the door would just fly open and pull Bani out of the train.
Almost everyone had climbed onboard and there was no one near the door, except them both, pinning her on the wall behind her, Jai, who’s head almost touched the ceiling of the compartment, bent down and kissed Bani on her forehead and said simply, ‘Bye…I will keep counting the days till you come back home, to me.’
Bani smiled and the tears that had filled her eyes spilt over her cheeks, to be wiped delicately by Jai, who whispered into her ears with intensity, ‘Don’t do that Bani…else, I will just lift you up in my arms and take you back home…the don’t blame me if your parent’s disown us both!’
Bani laughed on this in between her sobbing and taking his face in the palm of her hands, pleaded desperately, ‘Please take care of yourself…I don’t want to come back and see you lose even 10 gms of weight…because I wasn’t there to cook your favorite dish or just make you eat.’
Jai laughed and said, ‘Actually, it would be rather nice, if I could lose some weight…my trousers fit me a bit too well these days!’
Another whistle blew and the train motioned a bit, Jai opened the door and looking at Bani said hurriedly, ‘Ok…time to go…take care and I love you.’
Taking him completely by surprise, Bani bent down to touch his feet and as soon as Jai realized it, he held her by the shoulders and said, ‘Don’t Bani…I am your husband…’
She smiled at him, taking her hand which touched his feet to touch her forehead and said, ‘I know…that is why I never stop thanking God on my good luck…’
Mount Abu
By the time the Dixit’s along with Bani reached their home in Mount Abu, Rano was all but desperate to jump out of the train and run away from Bani and her depressed state. All through the journey, Rano along with Kiran kept chatting with her, but only got some much muted response as answer. Bani who played a mean hand at rummy lost three games in succession with Rano, because her concentration was simply not in the game.
Kiran hoped that Bani’s mood would be uplifted once she reaches her childhood home and meets with the rest of her family, especially her sister-in-law Pallavi with whom Bani shared an intimate bond.
Aparajit had come to pick them from the railway station and he almost lifted Bani in his arms with happiness, saying that she looked decidedly plump.
On reaching home, the pall of gloom that Bani was besieged with was lifted temporarily, as Raashi threw herself upon her eldest sister and chatted non-stop on everything under the Sun. Pallavi gave a warm hug to Bani and as usual taking some Kajal from her eyes put it behind Bani’s ears, saying that she looked absolutely radiant.
This was followed by some general teasing, in which Kiran also joined, pulling Bani’s leg on the ‘supposed’ reason for her glowing skin.
After everyone had a sumptuous dinner, in which Pallavi made all of Bani’s favorite dishes, the entire contingent of Dixit women sat in the moonlit verandah, laughing, gossiping and teasing Bani. Since Mount Abu was a small town, almost everyone knew one another and on knowing that Bani was visiting for the first time after her marriage, some of their neighbors had joined in too.
While Kiran was oiling Bani’s long, lustrous hair, ignoring her pleads on putting less oil, one of the neighbour aunty poked Bani on her hand and said, ‘So Bani beta…when are you giving us the good news?’
Pallavi and Kiran exchanged looks and giggled, while Bani looked bewildered and said, ‘What good news?’
The other aunty joined in and said, ‘Well, your Mother became a Daadi within one year of your Bhaiyaa and Bhabhi getting married…why you should remain behind in making her a Naani now?’
Bani blushed crimson and was mightily annoyed with the unnecessary poking, while Raashi and Pallavi went into squeals of girly giggles.
Finding her voice, she replied, ‘I am doing my MA now…this is the last thing on my mind.’
The aunty went on, unmindful of Bani’s embarrassment and said, ‘All that is okay…but your husband might want a child early on…’
Bani hastily replied back, ‘He has never mentioned anything like that too me…’
The aunty gave a wink at Kiran, who was trying her best to suppress her laughter over the general ribbing that was taking place with her daughter and said, ‘Don’t tell me, your husband is still besotted with you…that he doesn’t want a child right now…and only wants you.’
Everyone burst out laughing uproariously and Bani flushed to the roots of her hair, getting up in a huff and running inside, followed by Pallavi and Raashi, who were holding their tummy to contain their laughter.
Bani kept her promise and called up Jai religiously twice everyday, though he barely spoke to her, since when she called in the morning, he was in a rush to leave for Office and when she called in the evening, he was occupied with his work, teasing her that, it was after days, that he was able to finish so much of his work, since she wasn’t there to distract him at night.
Though she regularly mopped over Jai and fretted on his well-being all the time, evoking irritation from Rano and incessant teasing from Raashi and Pallavi, her mind was occupied when Teej finally happened.
On the first day of Teej called the "Dar Khane Din”, all the women, both married and unmarried, assemble at Dixit House, since it was one of the largest in Mount Abu, in their finest attires and start dancing and singing on traditional songs. Since Bani was one of the newly married lots, particular care was taken in the way she dressed and attired herself, putting Henna in both her hands and feet.
When Bani was seated in her room, to let the Mehendi on her hands and feet dry, she felt such a pang, missing Jai more than ever before. The last time she had put Mehendi was on her wedding and she had not even let her poor husband come anywhere near her…all she wanted now was to be with Jai.
The festivities of the first day of Teej started from early morning and continued till late night, after which the extremely harsh, 24 hours fasting ritual began, in which none of the observers of the fast could eat even a morsel of food or drink a drop of water. Not many women followed this orthodox version of the fast, but since it was Bani’s first Teej, she insisted on doing it properly, even though Kiran and Pallavi tried their best to advise her against it.
Jai had called her up in the evening, when Bani had just come from the temple and was lying in her room.
‘Hey lovely…missing me?’
Bani who was upset with Jai for having cut her phone call abruptly when she had called last, said in a sulky voice, ‘What do you think?’
Jai laughed and said, ‘You are still upset about yesterday, I think…I was expecting a client, that’s why I had to cut short our conversation…’
‘Which client?’ asked Bani suspiciously?
Jai grinned at the other end and said, ‘A very leggy, s**y and absolutely s**-starved bombshell who visits me every night since the day you are away…’
Though she knew that Jai was just teasing her, the effect of not having any food or water coupled with exhaustion played on her emotional state and she said angrily, ‘Great…I am the one who starves to death for you…and you go about cavorting with women behind my back.’
Jai kept silent for some time and then said slowly, ‘I was joking Bani…and you know that.’
Still upset, she replied back, ‘I don’t like these kinds of jokes.’
Feeling irritated, Jai controlled his anger and said in a cold voice, ‘I never told you to starve to death for me…you know very well what I think of all these rituals…and if you so dislike my sense of humor, then its better we don’t speak on the phone for the rest of your stay.’ Saying that he banged the phone down.
Bani who would have normally called back immediately and pacified Jai, felt very cross with him and just buried her head in the pillow and cried copiously for some time, till Raashi came to fetch her downstairs for the evening pooja.
It was only the next morning that Bani realized how rude she was on the phone and had unnecessarily made a mountain out of a molehill. Now having been fed and rested, her mind was at ease and she instantly called up Jai on his blackberry to apologize and make up with him, but the phone kept ringing.
When she called up home, Bhavesh received the phone and said that Jai Sahab had packed his overnighter and left for some place in his Car. Bani felt herself going cold, wondering where had husband had gone off. It was very unlike Jai to go anywhere without informing her and she felt miserable remembering their little fight over the phone yesterday evening.
Bani kept fretting and after trying to call up Jai innumerous times on his mobile, she finally gave up, when she found it coming out of range, thinking that he had shut it down, not wanting to speak with Bani.
A fresh bout of tears overcame Bani and ignoring all request of joining Raashi, Rano and Pallavi for a shopping spree, she sat all alone in the terrace and cried her heart out.
Jai had just cut the engine of his SUV in front of the Dixit House gates, when Raashi saw him from the distance and dropping the shopping bag that she had been offloading from the auto, screamed in excitement and went running all the way to Jai, hugging him with great affection and then in her usual comical manner, remembering to touch his feet.
‘Ooh Jeeju…this is such a surprise! Everyone will be so happy…but mostly relieved.’
Jai laughed at Raashi’s chatter and said, ‘Why relieved?’
Raashi shook her head in an exaggerated manner and said, ‘Your wife has been mourning since the day she arrived here…and even though all of us have become court jesters trying to cheer her highness up, to no avail! So we are relieved that you have come to unburden us of Di and her sulkiness!’
Jai laughed some more at that and was then besieged by Nishikant, an ever gushing Kiran, followed by Aparajit, Pallavi, Rano and Rohan.
Assuming that Bani was somewhere out, all of them sat in the drawing room and chatted with Jai at the same time, wanting to know innumerous questions related to his life, work, health, family and mostly how he was liking being married.
Jai felt full the moment he saw the plates and bowls of sweets and savories that spread out in his honor. Embarrassed at saying ‘No’ for everything, Jai felt that it would be very disrespectable to refuse any food and he partook every bit that was offered his way with gallantry, making a mental note of working out extra when he was back in Mumbai.
‘Where has Bani gone?’ he asked, in between chatting with Aparajit, desperately wanting to see Bani, after a long gap of three weeks and especially following their little argument over the phone yesterday.
Pallavi smiled and said, ‘I think she has gone out somewhere…maybe to meet one of her college friends…she will be back anytime now.’
Just then there old servant interrupted and spoke in a deferential manner to Jai, ‘Damadji, Bani betiya is upstairs…on the terrace…’
Everyone looked surprised and Kiran said, ‘What is she doing up there? We thought she was out…and look here, Jai has been waiting for the last 1 hour now. Raashi, please tell her to come down immediately.’
Before Raashi could follow her Mother’s instructions, Jai had got up and said simply, ‘Don’t Raashi…I will go up.’
Just as Jai disappeared, Raashi swooned and keeping her head on Pallavi’s shoulders said, ‘Isn’t he just a dream…I wish I get a husband just like him.’
Rano gave a smirk and said, ‘Considering you are not a patch on Bani di, it’s highly unlikely you will get someone like Jeejaji for a husband.’
Jai found her sitting desolately on the parapet wall of the terrace overlooking some fields in the backyard of their house and he assumed that was the reason why she hadn’t come rushing down on seeing him.
He quietly made his way to her and taking both his palms, covered her eyes and planted a kiss on the side of her neck.
Bani gave a little gasp and turned her back towards Jai, almost losing her balance in the shock that followed, to be caught firmly by him in his arms, lifting her from the wall and bringing her down to sit on his lap on the wooden swing that was kept in the Terrace.
Bani kept staring at Jai, as if she was not sure whether it was a dream or for real.
‘Shall I pinch you?’ Jai asked in an amused voice and Bani broke out of her trance, hugging Jai fiercely and breaking down crying in an unabashed way.
Holding her in his arms, Jai patted her head and said, ‘So…what are these tears for? Joy on seeing me or sadness on going away from your parent’s home?’
She lifted her tear strained face and spoke woefully, ‘I am sorry…..’
‘For what?’
Bani hesitated and sniffing a bit said, ‘For yesterday…I spoke to you so rudely…’
‘Oh that…I had completely forgotten about it…good you reminded me.’ Jai’s eyes twinkled with mischievousness, which Bani could not read.
Bani wiped her face and smiled at Jai, her eyes shining with happiness and she whispered, ‘You came to take me back all the way from Mumbai?’
Jai shrugged his head and said, ‘I really don’t have an option…just one wife, what do I do, if I don’t take her back!’
Bani laughed followed by Jai and he said, in between smothering her with kisses, ‘So when are you planning to pay me back for your insouciance?’
She looked bewildered and said, ‘You are really that angry with me?’
He nodded his head with as much seriousness as he could muster and said, ‘As a matter of fact I am feeling rather heated…and I wish that you do something to immediately cool me down!’
Bani thought for a moment and then said innocently, ‘Ma has made some Badam Sharbat…its supposed to be very cooling…’
Jai stared at her in disbelief and then threw his head back on the back rest of the swing, laughing his guts out and nuzzling her neck with his mouth said hoarsely, ‘Not that cooling down silly…’
Bani stared at Jai for sometime till comprehension set in and then blushed crimson, trying to break herself free from Jai and said shyly, ‘I will go and help Ma and Bhabhi with dinner…what will you have?’
Jai spread his hands on the swing and said with a wicked glint in his eyes, ‘You!’
Bani grinned in reply and said, ‘That item is not available here…’
‘Er…excuse me, but why may I ask?’
She smiled mischievously and said, ‘It’s my parent’s house…it would be so wrong…’
‘Whatever you mean by that Bani! I am only proposing to make love to my wife, not to my neighbor’s wife!’
Bani laughed shyly and said, ‘No go…you will have to wait till we get back home…’
Jai stared at her in incredulity and said, ‘You must be joking…’
Sensing that Bani was actually serious, he said with desperation, ‘Bani….we have been away for three weeks…have some pity on me!’
Bani broke down laughing at Jai’s words and tossed her head daintily, refusing him once more and saying that since she wouldn’t be seeing her family again for the next couple of months, she wanted to sleep with her Mother tonight.
Jai sulked and followed her downstairs, only to be caught in a dreadfully boring talk with his father-in-law and brother-in-law.
Bani managed to keep the smile of her face, so that she wouldn’t have to bear the brunt of Raashi and Pallavi’s teasing, but she could not manage to keep it off her eyes, especially whenever she caught Jai staring at her unheeded.
After Dinner was over, Kiran very emotionally told Bani, ‘Beta, your Papa will sleep in the guest room with Damadji…you are leaving tomorrow and I don’t know when we will get to see you again…you sleep with me in my room…’
Bani saw the look on Jai’s face and could barely suppress her giggle, especially when she saw Raashi making lewd faces and instigating her to laugh. Bani coyly agreed to the sleeping arrangement, while Jai sat and sulked in silence, now listening to Rano’s meritorious achievements at her school.
They all remained seated in the living room, chatting post-dinner and catching up with incidents and acquaintances. When it was time to retire to their respective rooms, Jai made a great pretence of consulting his watch and said, ‘Oh…I forgot to get petrol filled in my Car…we will be leaving very early tomorrow…the Gas station might not be open.’
Aparajit very courteously offered to get it filled, but Jai politely and firmly declined the offer and while leaving, very casually addressed his wife, ‘Bani, will you come with me…I am not sure which is the nearest station.’
Noticing nothing amiss, Bani promptly got up and went with Jai. When they had driven half-way down to what looked like a desolate spot, Bani looked out of the tinted glass and said in a worried tone, ‘This is the wrong route…we are near Nakki Lake…you had to take the Ambedkar road…’
With a smug smile on his face, Jai cut the engine and looking at Bani said quietly, ‘I know Mount Abu like the back of my hand…and I had hoped you would know that I always keep a buffer stock of gas, just in case…’
Bani stared at him in a confused way and said, ‘But then…why did you…’ And then noticed the slow curving of his mouth and before she could react, Jai switched off the overhead light and pushed back both their chairs so that the SUV became like one full unit.
Bani gasped in horror and wailed, ‘NO….Not here…Oh God…’
Jai who was not in any mood to listen, shut up any more protests that were coming his way with a fierce, long kiss on his wife’s mouth and before she knew, they were both lying in the cramped interior of the Car.
His lips were covering hers. She felt the trembling deep inside herself. His hands slid down her arms and curled around her fists. She felt her body straining against her will, desire moving towards him. His lips, his kiss, and she would drown in him.
She begged in a husky voice, ‘Please don’t…everyone will come to know…how will I face them?’
Jai who was deftly removing the buttons of his cotton shirt said with irreverence, ‘Are they clairvoyant to know that their daughter has been out making love to her husband in his Car?’
‘Noooo….please…we will be gone so long…they will know…’
‘I am not only good, but also quick…so now shut up and comply…else, I will take you home and drag you upstairs to your room for the night…which would surely confirm what they might now just suspect.’
Bani was caught between terror, laughter and longing and before she knew, she had given into her husband’s passion and desperation.
Bani rested her head on Jai's bare chest and was almost asleep, when he noticed that she had put mehendi in her hands and said, 'Hey you have put Mehendi...just like on our wedding...see everything worked out fine...now we have actually celebrated our wedding night...you are dressed like a bride...we had some great s**...even if its inside a very cramped car.'
She laughed softly and buried her head further more into his chest, feeling too weary to lift herself and get dressed.
‘You are a witch, Bani…a beautiful, loving, seductive witch…’ his voice was barely audible and she laughed softly, feeling his arms wrapped around her rib cage and said in a dreamy voice, ‘My family must have sent a search party by now….’
Jai kept quiet for a moment and they both broke down laughing for a long time.
Raashi kept questioning Bani on why she had got so late getting back home with Jai, but was only met with smug ignorance, followed by some very badly supressed giggles.
The farewell next day was an extremely teary and emotional one and Bani felt really miserable leaving her family and Mount Abu once again, as she had did after marriage…but this time, there was no heaviness in her heart, only happiness and contentment, as Bani slept with her head on Jai’s shoulder’s all the way during the long drive till Jaipur from they both boarded a flight back to Mumbai.
Bani finally managed to complete the Rangoli which had been holding her attention since the last one hour. Dusting the color of her hands, she unknowingly wiped her face of the little beads of sweat that had appeared.
Hurrying towards the kitchen, she mentally ticked off the work that had been completed and fretted as usual on the chores that were remaining.
This was a great topic of amusement for everyone in the family…despite a posse of help at home, she insisted on laboring herself, especially if it concerned her husband.
Jai, despite his exasperation on her part, took quiet but immense pride in his wife. For everything that Bani touched turned into something special, more so, if she was doing something for him.
Having been married for the last five years, Jai had experienced such happiness and bliss, which had been deemed impossible by him till a few years ago. An unhappy childhood which saw his Mother dying very early and the responsibility for his siblings falling on him, since there father was too busy managing the business, followed by a disastrous affair that marred his youth, marriage had just been the last thing on his mind. Following his Father’s death, work had occupied every corner of his heart and mind for the next couple of years and after marrying off his sister and settling his younger brother, Jai had been contended to lead a quiet, bachelor’s life, shifting in between the solitude of his rambling mansion and the vast business conglomerate that he headed, in Mumbai.
And then, Bani happened.
There’s had been an arranged marriage. Both of them belonged to very traditional families, where marrying out of love or choice was quite unheard of. More so, in the Dixit family, in which his wife had been the eldest of three daughters, belonging to a middle-class but immensely respectable family from Mount Abu.
A chance meeting between his maternal aunt and Bani’s family at a common acquaintance’s wedding had sparked off a series of visits from both sides and Jai, after being happily duped by his whole family, had ended up ‘seeing’ Bani at her home.
He had been furious till then, having been made to wait for almost 3 hours by that chit of a girl and he had a good mind to give her a sounding off before leaving, the question of marriage to someone like her did not even arise.
He could never forget the first time he had seen her, thoroughly drenched by the rain, shivering violently from the cold and holding that impetuous look in her deep-seated, expressive eyes.
It had been love at first sight. A very hilarious and purposeless talk between them had only strengthened his conviction and Jai proposed marriage to Bani there and then, without thinking anymore, which was very antithetical to his nature.
She had been all wrong for him and even though it was more than half a decade that they had been married and anointed the ‘perfect couple’ by everyone who knew them, Jai always felt that it was only God’s will that they ever got together, because as far as he knew, they shared nothing in common.
Jai had been born into tremendous wealth and influence, being the eldest son of a prominent Industrialist family and the heir apparent to the business empire. Discipline and obedience was drilled into him right from the beginning, by his ambitious father, deliberately keeping Jai away from his mother’s indulgence and cosseting, so that he might grow up to be as ruthless and ambitious as his father. Hence, despite having a complete family, Jai grew up to be more or less to be a loner, respected, feared and admired by both his friends and foes, but too distant and aloof to be really loved by any.
Bani on the other hand grew up in an extended join family, comprising of her parents, elder brother, sister-in-law, nephew and her two younger sisters. Pampered, loved and protected by everyone, she grew up in an atmosphere of warmth and affection, bound by tradition yet spirited and individualistic.
The initial few days of their marriage had been a disaster, so much so, that they had both sought a legal separation…but time worked its magic and before they both knew, the two strangers had become soul mates.
Year 1 of Marriage
Nishikant and Kiran Dixit, along with their youngest daughter, Rano were visiting Bani for the first time after her marriage, as it the norm in their community, to take her back for the oncoming Teej Festival to be celebrated in her Mother’s home. They were both seeing her daughter’s home for the first time and even though Nishikant quietly prided on the splendor and richness of Walia Mansion, Kiran could barely stop herself from gushing out loud, on her daughter’s good fortune, which included not only a house of dreams but a dream-like husband too.
‘Ma…’ yelped Bani and came rushing to hug her tightly and Kiran caught in between staring at the beautiful interiors and giddy with happiness at seeing her beloved daughter after such a long gap. Bani bent down to touch her parent’s feet, but her Mother, the traditionalist that she was, immediately stopped her and said, ‘Arre no, Beta…now you cannot touch our feet…married girls don’t do that.’
Then seeing the quiet and shy Rano standing behind, Bani squealed some more in excitement and proceeded to bear hug her youngest sibling, who cribbed about how Bani had forgotten her post-marriage.
Bani with all docility seated her parent’s in the living room and proceeded to get them water, but this time, was stopped by her Father, who said, ‘Nahin beta…we cannot have anything from your house…don’t you remember how your Pallavi Bhabhi’s parent’s never even touched water when they came to our house.’
Bani replied sadly, ‘What papa! You have come to see me after 12 whole months and now I cannot touch your feet, I cannot get you anything to eat or drink…’
Both Nishikant and Kiran laughed in response and the mother while wiping the tears of joy from her eyes, patted her daughter’s cheeks affectionately and said, ‘This is the way things are, beta…you will know, the day you become a Mother.’
Bani immediately blushed crimson and in a flustered manner, requested her parents to be comfortable while she fetched her husband from their bedroom, where he was apparently still sleeping, and 10 in the morning. But then, today was Sunday, Jai’s day off from work.
As soon as she disappeared, Kiran had tears flowing some more from her eyes and turning to look at her husband she said, ‘Please remind me to ward off the evil eye on Bani…I have never seen her look more beautiful….so happy…’
Nishikant who was quietly pondering on the radiance that spelt out on his most beloved child’s face agreed and said, ‘Yes…we made the correct choice for her…Jai is the perfect husband for our daughter.’
While Bani was away, Kiran looked around the room and could not help thinking and getting excited about going back to Mount Abu and recounting about her daughter’s magnificent home in Mumbai. Rano looked excitedly at the volumes of books that were kept in a corner of the large living area and went hurriedly towards that end.
Bani went inside her room, shutting the heavy Oak door behind her and smiling faintly, as she saw the sprawled figure of her husband on the four poster bed, front down, head buried under the pillow and the duvet covering him three-fourth’s. His clothes were strewn across the thickly carpeted floor below the bed and his shoes flung somewhere carelessly.
Bani shook her head, half in exasperation and half in amusement and proceeded to tidy them quickly.
The clothes and shoes were an everyday occurrence and she normally tidied it up first thing in the morning, but today she was too excited at the prospect of meeting her parent’s and hence forgot about the mess in the room.
The bed looked rumpled enough to resemble a football field and Bani reddened at the thought of yesterday night’s passionate encounter between that took place between her husband and her. Not that it was anything new, but weekends seemed to fuel an extra bout of energy into Jai and they ended up waking up till the wee hours of morning, laughing, talking, arguing or simply making love till both were too exhausted to even open their eyes till late morning the next day.
Despite many pleas of letting her sleep early, since she wanted to be up early to receive her parents, Jai had refused to see reason and ended up making her laugh uproariously recounting some anecdotes related to his work and then proceeded to kiss her for so long and so fiercely, that her lips had been swollen and hurt.
Though Jai kept cribbing about his ‘advancing years’ and how he did not seem to have the same stamina as before, Bani always teased him saying that she never saw any dipping of energy levels when it came to their weekend sessions.
In response, Jai had only drawn her closer and set about putting a seal of approval on her very correct observation.
Bani drew the silk curtains apart, letting warm sunlight fill every corner of their spacious bedroom. Jai who had thrown the pillow somewhere on the floor, squinted his eyes with irritation and yelled, ‘Bani…close the damn curtains.’
She ignored his protest, going near the bed and poking him on his bare back. ‘Get up.’
He rubbed his eyes some more and without bothering to open them, said, ‘Shut up and let me sleep.’
She shook him up a bit more but it made no difference to Jai, since his built was so massive and strong, that it would have taken at least 3 more like Bani to make him move from his position. ‘Get up’ she cried again.
Jai opened his eyes a bit, protecting them from the light that was pouring in and looking at his beautiful wife, hid the smile that came on his face and said teasingly, ‘You are such a nag…even on a weekend, won’t leave me in peace.’
Without missing a beat, Bani answered playfully, ‘And you are such a tyrant…even though I kept begging; you won’t let me sleep early.’
‘How dare you answer me back?’ Jai asked in mock-anger.
Sitting on the bed, Bani leaned downwards to give Jai a peck on his cheeks and said affectionately, ‘This is what happens when you love your wife so much…she begins to think that she had every right over her husband.’
Jai kept staring at her and slowly smiled, answering back in a husky voice, ‘And by Jove she has….’
Before Bani could say anything, he took her in both his arms and pulled her over his torso, kissing her softly on her lips and without letting go of her mouth, pushed her back down on the bed, putting his legs over her so that she wouldn’t be able to get up.
‘Nooo…’ Bani let out in a muffled voice, dreading the prospect of having one of her parent’s come over to the room, wondering why she was taking so long. Jai had started unbuttoning her blouse, when she said, ‘Pa…Ma…leave me…’
Jai lifted his head a little bit from her face and said, ‘So not the right time to remember your parents…you are killing the moment…’
Bani gasped, taking in gulps of breath and trying to look annoyed at Jai, but to no avail. She began laughing, which only worked up Jai more, since he found her laughter to be a great turn on and said, ‘Okay…now you are gone, Mrs. Walia.’ Pulling the Sari off her body, he began kissing her fiercely from the tip of her chin, trailing down the neck, tickling her in the process and evoking more delighted laughter from her, till she squealed, ‘Ma and Papa are downstairs…’
‘What?’ Jai lifted his head from the hollow of her neck, looking bewildered and then disappointed.
‘What sort of a reaction is that? Is that how I behave when my in-laws come?’
Jai gave a lazy grin in response and said, ‘Achha meri Ma…forgive me…now, can I get up and get ready to greet my respected in-laws!’
Planting a swift kiss on his cheeks, she got up from the bed and straightened her Sari, and rattled off instructions. ‘I have put toothpaste on your brush, your shaver is plugged and your bath is filled. Your clothes are kept on the couch, Coffee and Newspaper are available downstairs.’
Jai stared at her for sometime and said, ‘I hope you know that I get a terrible complex just being near you!’
Bani was tidying the Bed and she looked at him in astonishment and said, ‘Why?’
‘You are not only the most beautiful woman I have known in my entire life, but also the most efficient…and that mind you, in my experience of women, is a very rare combination.’
Bani smiled at him and then making a cross face said, ‘I will take that compliment but I don’t want to hear any mentions of the ‘other women’ in your life.’
Jai raised his hands in a reconciliatory manner and holding Bani from her waist, whispered into her ears, ‘Does it look as if there would be any other woman in my life apart from you?’
She blushed pink with pleasure and knowing from experience where such talks normally led to, pushed him with great difficulty towards the bathroom.
Bani came down to inform her parents that Jai would be down in a minute, though she knew that his body clock worked extraordinarily slow on Sunday’s. Though she knew that her parents wouldn’t have anything to eat, she went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for Jai and Rano.
While Bani was cutting some vegetables to make bread-rolls which were Rano’s favorite, Kiran came inside the kitchen and just quietly watched Bani engrossed in the work, doing many things at the same time, looking extremely pre-occupied.
Kiran’s eyes filled with tears, seeing her daughter so happy and settled so well in domesticity. She had been very worried during the time of her wedding, since Bani had thrown a huge tantrum before agreeing to marry Jai, but seeing her in front of her eyes, all the concern and anxiety vanished in a second.
Bani suddenly noticed her Mother’s presence in the kitchen and smiled back at her in an absent manner, putting the mixed fruit she had just cut into neat pieces, in a crystal bowl inside the fridge to chill before serving it for Jai.
‘He doesn’t like to eat fried food…so I always keep a bowl of fruits ready.’ Bani explained in a chatty manner to Kiran, checking the oil was ready for frying the bread-rolls.
‘Bani, are you happy in the marriage with Jai?’ Kiran asked simply, more like a statement rather than a question.
Bani stopped chopping the coriander and stared at her Mother, speechless for some time and then color suffused both her cheeks, which evoked a knowing smile from her Mother, making Bani fluster and blush absolutely.
‘Ma…aap bhi…’ Bani mumbled, feeling very shy and lowering her head to put her full concentration on chopping the coriander.
Kiran’s smile widened and she said, holding Bani by her shoulder, ‘I don’t need your answer…your face says it all.’
Bani’s cheeks were a flaming crimson now and she felt very relieved when Rano came hopping in, after making a few rounds of the house and marveling in its beauty and structure.
‘Di, your house is so beautiful…it’s so big…how do you clean it when it’s the maid’s day off?’
Bani laughed and patting Rano on her head replied back jokingly, ‘As long as your Jeejaji doesn’t notice, I don’t bother cleaning it.’
Rano who took everything in life with utter seriousness looked wounded by the fact that her much idolized elder sister could be so callous with regard to her house-keeping skills.
By the time, Bani laid the breakfast table, with help from Bhavesh, who came in late on Sunday’s, Jai had come downstairs, dressed informally in a half-sleeve polo t-shirt in white and a pair of old denim jeans, which was a source of constant argument between both Jai and Bani, who insisted on putting it in the laundry for a wash every week.
Nishikant and Kiran’s face alighted with affection when they saw their son-in-law, who bent down to touch both their feet and then was hugged with much love and adoration. Bani glanced at her husband and smiled and he winked back in response, when the parents were not looking, making Bani grin.
Jai tried to persuade his in-laws to eat something, but did not lay too much stress, understanding their adhering to traditions. Rano sat down to have breakfast and felt extremely shy and bashful of Jai, when he asked her about her school. She saw him in great awe and behaved in a very formal and respectful manner towards him, which amused Jai, since Bani’s other sister, Raashi, was the complete opposite and was very comfortable talking to Jai.
Bani served some fruits to her parent’s, telling them in between laughter that it was gifted by some friend’s of Jai and hence not technically from their daughter’s house and they could have at least that.
Nishikant talked in great detail with Jai regarding his work and how they were looking forward to him and Bani coming down to Mount Abu for a few days.
‘Accha beta, I think its time for us to leave…thank you so much for the hospitality.’ Kiran got up and thanked Jai, who looked as surprised as Bani and said, ‘But Ma, you have just come, how can you leave so soon. Besides, Karuna and Nachiket would love to meet you all.’
Nishikant smiled and said, ‘Yes, we would surely meet them before leaving for Mount Abu, but for now, we are going to my cousin’s house, where we are staying.’
Bani tried her best to persuade both her parents to stay at her home, but they insisted gently that they could not do so, though Rano could stay if she wanted to.
When Jai took out the Car to drop them both to their relative’s house, Kiran smiled benignly and addressed to Jai, ‘So, when do you want Bani to come back?’
Jai looked bewildered and said, ‘I am sorry, but come back from where?’
Kiran looked equally confused and said, ‘From Mount Abu…she will be coming with us tomorrow…’ Sensing the look of utter astonishment on Jai’s face, Kiran continued in an unsure voice, ‘Its Bani’s first Teej…a newly married girl is supposed to celebrate it in her Mother’s home…I thought Bani knew about it and must have told you.’
Bani who had just come out to see off her parents, at first looked confused and then embarrassed and then worried, taking in Jai’s expression, who stared at her questioningly.
Kiran looked at Bani and said lovingly, ‘Beta, didn’t you tell our Damadji about Teej…I wrote to you last month, that your Papa and I will come to take you home for three weeks….’
Jai almost gasped and blurted out in shock, ‘Three weeks?’
Bani went hot all over, when she remembered the letter that her Mother so painstakingly wrote to her in regular intervals and looking extremely guilty, said in a small voice, ‘Yes…I remember.’
Kiran felt relieved and regaining confidence in her voice said cheerfully, ‘So that is settled then…I will get Daksh, your Bua’s son to come and pick you up tomorrow…no need to bother Damadji. Your train ticket is with Papa.’
Bani was so petrified by Jai’s reaction, that she did not dare look at him at the moment, knowing what a ticking off she was going to get by him as soon as her parent’s left. And the morning itself, he had praised her for her efficiency. How could she forget about her Mother’s letter and more importantly, how could she forget talking about this trip to Jai?
Jai stormed off inside the house in silence, followed by an unusually quiet Bani and a chattering Rano, who insisted that Bani spend the rest of the day with her showing around the house, especially Jeejaji’s book collection.
Giving instructions to Bhavesh for lunch, she settled Rano down with a couple of books and something to much on and went to face Jai, who had locked himself in the Study.
Knocking thrice on the door, Bani did not get any response and she twiddled the edge of her Sari, wondering whether she should go inside or not. Though Jai was essentially a serious and reserved person by nature, he rarely lost his temper, unless his patience was tested and having experienced his bellowing rage on her once, Bani had no wish to evoke it again in this lifetime.
Just then Rano came hopping by, apparently getting a tour of the house by none other than loyal Bhavesh and not wanting to make her sister wonder why she was standing like a statue in front of her husband’s study, Bani took a deep breath in and went inside the study.
Jai was sitting on the leather armchair, engrossed in a thick volume that spread out on the enormous walnut colored desk in front of him. Hearing the door open and shut, he looked up, peering at Bani without any expression from his half-moon glasses, which Bani thought suited him a lot.
Coughing and clearing her throat nervously, Bani said in a low voice, ‘Am I disturbing you?’
He answered back tonelessly, ‘As a matter of fact, you are.’ Saying that he went back to browsing the tome, ignoring Bani.
Stunned by the snub, Bani stood at the door for sometime and then gathering courage, walked towards her husband and gingerly placed her hand on his shoulder and said in a soft voice, ‘I am sorry…’
Without lifting his head from the book, he retorted back, ‘For what?’
Bani kept looking at her husband, who made a great pretence of being engrossed in the book and a smile swept across her face, she wanted so desperately to hug him there and then. Instead she sat on the parquet floor, besides Jai’s chair and placed her head on his knees.
Jai glanced at her and said in the same annoyed vein, ‘This is not going to help.’
She looked up with innocent eyes and said in all sincerity, ‘But you always do it, when I am upset with you…’
Jai tried to glare down at Bani, but instead of reprimanding or being angry with her, begin laughing at her answer, shaking his head.
Lifting her swiftly off her waist, he made her sit on his lap and spoke in a wistful note, ‘I know you genuinely forgot to tell me about the letter…but how will that fact help me live here alone for three weeks, Bani?’
She was so taken in with the emotion in his voice, that tears sprung up with alacrity in her eyes and hugging back Jai, she said, ‘I won’t go with Ma and Papa….you tell them that you are not giving permission to let me go…’
Jai laughed shortly and pulling her cheeks said amusedly, ‘Very smart! You bungle up and then push me forward to cover for you. Forget it! They like me too much, I am not going to spoil my impression. If you don’t want to go, you should be the one telling them that.’
‘But how I can tell that to my parents? What will they think? Ma will be so hurt…’ Bani pleaded.
‘Well, she will be equally hurt if I refuse to let you go…and besides, I can’t do that…they are your parent’s…just because you are married, doesn’t mean, they have lost all their rights over you.’
Bani gazed at her husband for some time with moist eyes and touching his cheeks said, ‘Why do you have to be so nice all the time?’
Jai smiled softly and getting a flirtatious note in his voice said, ‘you are wrong…I am not nice all the time…’
Bani blushed at the meaning intended and hastily proceeded to get up from his lap, feeling shy and said, ‘I will call you everyday, twice…and will put up a list of all your things in the bedroom…and tell Bhavesh about your food…and request Karuna didi to visit you…and will tell Jatin to…’
Jai interrupted her flow of conversation and said, ‘Hang on…hang on…you might be going away from home for the first time after our marriage…I have had 32 years of experience staying alone…so don’t worry too much about me.’
Bani looked hurt and addressed Jai in an injured tone, ‘That was before…now you are not alone…you don’t even know where your socks are kept…or which suit you wear on which day…or what time you take your medicine…who is going to take care of all that?’
Jai kept looking at his wife in silence and then spoke slowly in an astonished sort of way, ‘Yes…that’s true…who will take care of me…now that you have spoilt me for life.’
Bani gave a moist smile and coming near Jai, kept her head on his chest and when he held her tightly in his arms, she did not struggle to let go, stating excuses of work or some imaginary peeping tom.
‘I will miss you…’ she said, sobbing quietly. Taking her face in his hand, Jai planted a feather-light kiss on her lips and said, ‘Look at it like a much needed break from me…now for a change, you will be able to sleep fitfully at night…and that too for a good 8 hours at a stretch.’
Bani went crimson at the comment and they both laughed, hugging one another.
Mumbai Central Railway Station
Jai had clearly never seen the insides of a Railway Station, which was apparent from the look of confusion and concern on his face, looking at the teeming crowd, jostling and pushing one another. He was thoroughly worried at the prospect of Bani travelling in the midst of all this, despite the assurance of Nishikant and Kiran that they would take extra care of Bani, since now she was his wife, and not just their daughter. Though Kiran absolutely adored Jai, she felt that her son-in-law was a wee bit paranoid when it concerned Bani and her safety, considering the relentless stream of questions he asked them about Train travel and how safe it was for a young woman to travel.
Having settled his wife, her parent’s and her sister in the compartment of the Mumbai-Jaipur Rajdhani, Jai wished them a safe journey and told Bani to call him as soon as they reached Mount Abu. Not that it needed any reminding from Jai’s part, because Bani had already repeated several times to him that she would call him up regularly along with instructions on his medicine dosage, his food, his clothes, his bath water and where his underwear was kept. Jai was so exasperated that he actually willed the train to leave a little sooner than scheduled.
The conductor had blown the whistle and the train was about to depart, getting up from the seat, he touched Nishikant and Kiran’s feet and blessed Rano when she touched his feet, looked at Bani with great love and said bye to her.
She had her eyes filled to the brim and she walked till the door with Jai, who had made Bani promise that she won’t venture near the compartment door alone, as if the door would just fly open and pull Bani out of the train.
Almost everyone had climbed onboard and there was no one near the door, except them both, pinning her on the wall behind her, Jai, who’s head almost touched the ceiling of the compartment, bent down and kissed Bani on her forehead and said simply, ‘Bye…I will keep counting the days till you come back home, to me.’
Bani smiled and the tears that had filled her eyes spilt over her cheeks, to be wiped delicately by Jai, who whispered into her ears with intensity, ‘Don’t do that Bani…else, I will just lift you up in my arms and take you back home…the don’t blame me if your parent’s disown us both!’
Bani laughed on this in between her sobbing and taking his face in the palm of her hands, pleaded desperately, ‘Please take care of yourself…I don’t want to come back and see you lose even 10 gms of weight…because I wasn’t there to cook your favorite dish or just make you eat.’
Jai laughed and said, ‘Actually, it would be rather nice, if I could lose some weight…my trousers fit me a bit too well these days!’
Another whistle blew and the train motioned a bit, Jai opened the door and looking at Bani said hurriedly, ‘Ok…time to go…take care and I love you.’
Taking him completely by surprise, Bani bent down to touch his feet and as soon as Jai realized it, he held her by the shoulders and said, ‘Don’t Bani…I am your husband…’
She smiled at him, taking her hand which touched his feet to touch her forehead and said, ‘I know…that is why I never stop thanking God on my good luck…’
Mount Abu
By the time the Dixit’s along with Bani reached their home in Mount Abu, Rano was all but desperate to jump out of the train and run away from Bani and her depressed state. All through the journey, Rano along with Kiran kept chatting with her, but only got some much muted response as answer. Bani who played a mean hand at rummy lost three games in succession with Rano, because her concentration was simply not in the game.
Kiran hoped that Bani’s mood would be uplifted once she reaches her childhood home and meets with the rest of her family, especially her sister-in-law Pallavi with whom Bani shared an intimate bond.
Aparajit had come to pick them from the railway station and he almost lifted Bani in his arms with happiness, saying that she looked decidedly plump.
On reaching home, the pall of gloom that Bani was besieged with was lifted temporarily, as Raashi threw herself upon her eldest sister and chatted non-stop on everything under the Sun. Pallavi gave a warm hug to Bani and as usual taking some Kajal from her eyes put it behind Bani’s ears, saying that she looked absolutely radiant.
This was followed by some general teasing, in which Kiran also joined, pulling Bani’s leg on the ‘supposed’ reason for her glowing skin.
After everyone had a sumptuous dinner, in which Pallavi made all of Bani’s favorite dishes, the entire contingent of Dixit women sat in the moonlit verandah, laughing, gossiping and teasing Bani. Since Mount Abu was a small town, almost everyone knew one another and on knowing that Bani was visiting for the first time after her marriage, some of their neighbors had joined in too.
While Kiran was oiling Bani’s long, lustrous hair, ignoring her pleads on putting less oil, one of the neighbour aunty poked Bani on her hand and said, ‘So Bani beta…when are you giving us the good news?’
Pallavi and Kiran exchanged looks and giggled, while Bani looked bewildered and said, ‘What good news?’
The other aunty joined in and said, ‘Well, your Mother became a Daadi within one year of your Bhaiyaa and Bhabhi getting married…why you should remain behind in making her a Naani now?’
Bani blushed crimson and was mightily annoyed with the unnecessary poking, while Raashi and Pallavi went into squeals of girly giggles.
Finding her voice, she replied, ‘I am doing my MA now…this is the last thing on my mind.’
The aunty went on, unmindful of Bani’s embarrassment and said, ‘All that is okay…but your husband might want a child early on…’
Bani hastily replied back, ‘He has never mentioned anything like that too me…’
The aunty gave a wink at Kiran, who was trying her best to suppress her laughter over the general ribbing that was taking place with her daughter and said, ‘Don’t tell me, your husband is still besotted with you…that he doesn’t want a child right now…and only wants you.’
Everyone burst out laughing uproariously and Bani flushed to the roots of her hair, getting up in a huff and running inside, followed by Pallavi and Raashi, who were holding their tummy to contain their laughter.
Bani kept her promise and called up Jai religiously twice everyday, though he barely spoke to her, since when she called in the morning, he was in a rush to leave for Office and when she called in the evening, he was occupied with his work, teasing her that, it was after days, that he was able to finish so much of his work, since she wasn’t there to distract him at night.
Though she regularly mopped over Jai and fretted on his well-being all the time, evoking irritation from Rano and incessant teasing from Raashi and Pallavi, her mind was occupied when Teej finally happened.
On the first day of Teej called the "Dar Khane Din”, all the women, both married and unmarried, assemble at Dixit House, since it was one of the largest in Mount Abu, in their finest attires and start dancing and singing on traditional songs. Since Bani was one of the newly married lots, particular care was taken in the way she dressed and attired herself, putting Henna in both her hands and feet.
When Bani was seated in her room, to let the Mehendi on her hands and feet dry, she felt such a pang, missing Jai more than ever before. The last time she had put Mehendi was on her wedding and she had not even let her poor husband come anywhere near her…all she wanted now was to be with Jai.
The festivities of the first day of Teej started from early morning and continued till late night, after which the extremely harsh, 24 hours fasting ritual began, in which none of the observers of the fast could eat even a morsel of food or drink a drop of water. Not many women followed this orthodox version of the fast, but since it was Bani’s first Teej, she insisted on doing it properly, even though Kiran and Pallavi tried their best to advise her against it.
Jai had called her up in the evening, when Bani had just come from the temple and was lying in her room.
‘Hey lovely…missing me?’
Bani who was upset with Jai for having cut her phone call abruptly when she had called last, said in a sulky voice, ‘What do you think?’
Jai laughed and said, ‘You are still upset about yesterday, I think…I was expecting a client, that’s why I had to cut short our conversation…’
‘Which client?’ asked Bani suspiciously?
Jai grinned at the other end and said, ‘A very leggy, s**y and absolutely s**-starved bombshell who visits me every night since the day you are away…’
Though she knew that Jai was just teasing her, the effect of not having any food or water coupled with exhaustion played on her emotional state and she said angrily, ‘Great…I am the one who starves to death for you…and you go about cavorting with women behind my back.’
Jai kept silent for some time and then said slowly, ‘I was joking Bani…and you know that.’
Still upset, she replied back, ‘I don’t like these kinds of jokes.’
Feeling irritated, Jai controlled his anger and said in a cold voice, ‘I never told you to starve to death for me…you know very well what I think of all these rituals…and if you so dislike my sense of humor, then its better we don’t speak on the phone for the rest of your stay.’ Saying that he banged the phone down.
Bani who would have normally called back immediately and pacified Jai, felt very cross with him and just buried her head in the pillow and cried copiously for some time, till Raashi came to fetch her downstairs for the evening pooja.
It was only the next morning that Bani realized how rude she was on the phone and had unnecessarily made a mountain out of a molehill. Now having been fed and rested, her mind was at ease and she instantly called up Jai on his blackberry to apologize and make up with him, but the phone kept ringing.
When she called up home, Bhavesh received the phone and said that Jai Sahab had packed his overnighter and left for some place in his Car. Bani felt herself going cold, wondering where had husband had gone off. It was very unlike Jai to go anywhere without informing her and she felt miserable remembering their little fight over the phone yesterday evening.
Bani kept fretting and after trying to call up Jai innumerous times on his mobile, she finally gave up, when she found it coming out of range, thinking that he had shut it down, not wanting to speak with Bani.
A fresh bout of tears overcame Bani and ignoring all request of joining Raashi, Rano and Pallavi for a shopping spree, she sat all alone in the terrace and cried her heart out.
Jai had just cut the engine of his SUV in front of the Dixit House gates, when Raashi saw him from the distance and dropping the shopping bag that she had been offloading from the auto, screamed in excitement and went running all the way to Jai, hugging him with great affection and then in her usual comical manner, remembering to touch his feet.
‘Ooh Jeeju…this is such a surprise! Everyone will be so happy…but mostly relieved.’
Jai laughed at Raashi’s chatter and said, ‘Why relieved?’
Raashi shook her head in an exaggerated manner and said, ‘Your wife has been mourning since the day she arrived here…and even though all of us have become court jesters trying to cheer her highness up, to no avail! So we are relieved that you have come to unburden us of Di and her sulkiness!’
Jai laughed some more at that and was then besieged by Nishikant, an ever gushing Kiran, followed by Aparajit, Pallavi, Rano and Rohan.
Assuming that Bani was somewhere out, all of them sat in the drawing room and chatted with Jai at the same time, wanting to know innumerous questions related to his life, work, health, family and mostly how he was liking being married.
Jai felt full the moment he saw the plates and bowls of sweets and savories that spread out in his honor. Embarrassed at saying ‘No’ for everything, Jai felt that it would be very disrespectable to refuse any food and he partook every bit that was offered his way with gallantry, making a mental note of working out extra when he was back in Mumbai.
‘Where has Bani gone?’ he asked, in between chatting with Aparajit, desperately wanting to see Bani, after a long gap of three weeks and especially following their little argument over the phone yesterday.
Pallavi smiled and said, ‘I think she has gone out somewhere…maybe to meet one of her college friends…she will be back anytime now.’
Just then there old servant interrupted and spoke in a deferential manner to Jai, ‘Damadji, Bani betiya is upstairs…on the terrace…’
Everyone looked surprised and Kiran said, ‘What is she doing up there? We thought she was out…and look here, Jai has been waiting for the last 1 hour now. Raashi, please tell her to come down immediately.’
Before Raashi could follow her Mother’s instructions, Jai had got up and said simply, ‘Don’t Raashi…I will go up.’
Just as Jai disappeared, Raashi swooned and keeping her head on Pallavi’s shoulders said, ‘Isn’t he just a dream…I wish I get a husband just like him.’
Rano gave a smirk and said, ‘Considering you are not a patch on Bani di, it’s highly unlikely you will get someone like Jeejaji for a husband.’
Jai found her sitting desolately on the parapet wall of the terrace overlooking some fields in the backyard of their house and he assumed that was the reason why she hadn’t come rushing down on seeing him.
He quietly made his way to her and taking both his palms, covered her eyes and planted a kiss on the side of her neck.
Bani gave a little gasp and turned her back towards Jai, almost losing her balance in the shock that followed, to be caught firmly by him in his arms, lifting her from the wall and bringing her down to sit on his lap on the wooden swing that was kept in the Terrace.
Bani kept staring at Jai, as if she was not sure whether it was a dream or for real.
‘Shall I pinch you?’ Jai asked in an amused voice and Bani broke out of her trance, hugging Jai fiercely and breaking down crying in an unabashed way.
Holding her in his arms, Jai patted her head and said, ‘So…what are these tears for? Joy on seeing me or sadness on going away from your parent’s home?’
She lifted her tear strained face and spoke woefully, ‘I am sorry…..’
‘For what?’
Bani hesitated and sniffing a bit said, ‘For yesterday…I spoke to you so rudely…’
‘Oh that…I had completely forgotten about it…good you reminded me.’ Jai’s eyes twinkled with mischievousness, which Bani could not read.
Bani wiped her face and smiled at Jai, her eyes shining with happiness and she whispered, ‘You came to take me back all the way from Mumbai?’
Jai shrugged his head and said, ‘I really don’t have an option…just one wife, what do I do, if I don’t take her back!’
Bani laughed followed by Jai and he said, in between smothering her with kisses, ‘So when are you planning to pay me back for your insouciance?’
She looked bewildered and said, ‘You are really that angry with me?’
He nodded his head with as much seriousness as he could muster and said, ‘As a matter of fact I am feeling rather heated…and I wish that you do something to immediately cool me down!’
Bani thought for a moment and then said innocently, ‘Ma has made some Badam Sharbat…its supposed to be very cooling…’
Jai stared at her in disbelief and then threw his head back on the back rest of the swing, laughing his guts out and nuzzling her neck with his mouth said hoarsely, ‘Not that cooling down silly…’
Bani stared at Jai for sometime till comprehension set in and then blushed crimson, trying to break herself free from Jai and said shyly, ‘I will go and help Ma and Bhabhi with dinner…what will you have?’
Jai spread his hands on the swing and said with a wicked glint in his eyes, ‘You!’
Bani grinned in reply and said, ‘That item is not available here…’
‘Er…excuse me, but why may I ask?’
She smiled mischievously and said, ‘It’s my parent’s house…it would be so wrong…’
‘Whatever you mean by that Bani! I am only proposing to make love to my wife, not to my neighbor’s wife!’
Bani laughed shyly and said, ‘No go…you will have to wait till we get back home…’
Jai stared at her in incredulity and said, ‘You must be joking…’
Sensing that Bani was actually serious, he said with desperation, ‘Bani….we have been away for three weeks…have some pity on me!’
Bani broke down laughing at Jai’s words and tossed her head daintily, refusing him once more and saying that since she wouldn’t be seeing her family again for the next couple of months, she wanted to sleep with her Mother tonight.
Jai sulked and followed her downstairs, only to be caught in a dreadfully boring talk with his father-in-law and brother-in-law.
Bani managed to keep the smile of her face, so that she wouldn’t have to bear the brunt of Raashi and Pallavi’s teasing, but she could not manage to keep it off her eyes, especially whenever she caught Jai staring at her unheeded.
After Dinner was over, Kiran very emotionally told Bani, ‘Beta, your Papa will sleep in the guest room with Damadji…you are leaving tomorrow and I don’t know when we will get to see you again…you sleep with me in my room…’
Bani saw the look on Jai’s face and could barely suppress her giggle, especially when she saw Raashi making lewd faces and instigating her to laugh. Bani coyly agreed to the sleeping arrangement, while Jai sat and sulked in silence, now listening to Rano’s meritorious achievements at her school.
They all remained seated in the living room, chatting post-dinner and catching up with incidents and acquaintances. When it was time to retire to their respective rooms, Jai made a great pretence of consulting his watch and said, ‘Oh…I forgot to get petrol filled in my Car…we will be leaving very early tomorrow…the Gas station might not be open.’
Aparajit very courteously offered to get it filled, but Jai politely and firmly declined the offer and while leaving, very casually addressed his wife, ‘Bani, will you come with me…I am not sure which is the nearest station.’
Noticing nothing amiss, Bani promptly got up and went with Jai. When they had driven half-way down to what looked like a desolate spot, Bani looked out of the tinted glass and said in a worried tone, ‘This is the wrong route…we are near Nakki Lake…you had to take the Ambedkar road…’
With a smug smile on his face, Jai cut the engine and looking at Bani said quietly, ‘I know Mount Abu like the back of my hand…and I had hoped you would know that I always keep a buffer stock of gas, just in case…’
Bani stared at him in a confused way and said, ‘But then…why did you…’ And then noticed the slow curving of his mouth and before she could react, Jai switched off the overhead light and pushed back both their chairs so that the SUV became like one full unit.
Bani gasped in horror and wailed, ‘NO….Not here…Oh God…’
Jai who was not in any mood to listen, shut up any more protests that were coming his way with a fierce, long kiss on his wife’s mouth and before she knew, they were both lying in the cramped interior of the Car.
His lips were covering hers. She felt the trembling deep inside herself. His hands slid down her arms and curled around her fists. She felt her body straining against her will, desire moving towards him. His lips, his kiss, and she would drown in him.
She begged in a husky voice, ‘Please don’t…everyone will come to know…how will I face them?’
Jai who was deftly removing the buttons of his cotton shirt said with irreverence, ‘Are they clairvoyant to know that their daughter has been out making love to her husband in his Car?’
‘Noooo….please…we will be gone so long…they will know…’
‘I am not only good, but also quick…so now shut up and comply…else, I will take you home and drag you upstairs to your room for the night…which would surely confirm what they might now just suspect.’
Bani was caught between terror, laughter and longing and before she knew, she had given into her husband’s passion and desperation.
Bani rested her head on Jai's bare chest and was almost asleep, when he noticed that she had put mehendi in her hands and said, 'Hey you have put Mehendi...just like on our wedding...see everything worked out fine...now we have actually celebrated our wedding night...you are dressed like a bride...we had some great s**...even if its inside a very cramped car.'
She laughed softly and buried her head further more into his chest, feeling too weary to lift herself and get dressed.
‘You are a witch, Bani…a beautiful, loving, seductive witch…’ his voice was barely audible and she laughed softly, feeling his arms wrapped around her rib cage and said in a dreamy voice, ‘My family must have sent a search party by now….’
Jai kept quiet for a moment and they both broke down laughing for a long time.
Raashi kept questioning Bani on why she had got so late getting back home with Jai, but was only met with smug ignorance, followed by some very badly supressed giggles.
The farewell next day was an extremely teary and emotional one and Bani felt really miserable leaving her family and Mount Abu once again, as she had did after marriage…but this time, there was no heaviness in her heart, only happiness and contentment, as Bani slept with her head on Jai’s shoulder’s all the way during the long drive till Jaipur from they both boarded a flight back to Mumbai.
Year 2 & 3 of Marriage
Bani kept a watchful look on the clock embedded on the Fridge and simultaneously stirred the vegetables and checked if the porridge was cooked fully in the Microwave. She had to leave for her school in the next half an hour and everything was incomplete. Since she didn’t let Bhavesh handle the kitchen or do anything for Jai, the help was more or less without any work in the morning and just loitered around the house, dusting and cleaning unnecessarily.
After having miraculously completed her Masters in English two months back, Bani had expressed a desire to work part time in a school, since she did not have much to do at home, apart from waiting for Jai to come back, that is, if he was not travelling on work. Jai had been a bit reluctant at first, fussing over her delicate health and the pointlessness of earning money, but had seen reason finally.
With Bani’s academic qualifications, it did not take her too long to find a job as a teacher with a local kindergarten, which was not too far away from her home. Besides, the timing suited her perfectly as she was able to leave after Jai left for work and return home, much before he came back.
When Bani packed Jai’s lunch and was about to pack her mid-day snack, she heard his voice calling out loudly from upstairs, as if something was on fire. Dropping the cheese sandwich back on the cutting board, she rushed upstairs to her bedroom.
Jai was standing with a towel draped around his body, fresh out of his bath and fumbling in an irritated manner with his shirt.
‘The damn buttonhole is too small for the cufflink to go in…I get the bloody tailor to custom make a 500 dollar shirt for me and this is the shoddy job that I get.’
Jai threw his expensive Zegna shirt with disdain on the floor and proceeded to ransack the wardrobe to search for another shirt, muttering some inexplicable under his breath.
Bani stood there for a while, wondering why exactly she was called up in such an emergency and remembered that she still had several things to wrap up and she had to report early to school today.
Jai gave a frustrated grunt and looking at Bani said, ‘Yaar…please help me find something to wear…’
Bani stared at Jai for sometime and then smiling in a ‘you are hopeless’ kind of way, went to his wardrobe and within the next 3 minutes, laid out his shirt, matching trousers, blazer, tie, socks and shoes ready to be worn.
Jai tried to look thankful but only ended up looking sheepish and she said, pulling his cheeks, ‘How someone manages 50 factory sites, 27 all-India branches, 10 international branches, 16,000 employees and some 1000 clients without a blink of his eye, but is not able to take out his clothes to wear for Office, is beyond my understanding.’
Jai started laughing along with Bani and bringing her close to his chest, pushed a stray tendril of hair behind her ears and said, ‘Lets just say that I like to keep my wife busy…all the time.’
‘Then I must say, that you do a very good job of it, because I think I am going to be fired by the principal today for coming late, cause she will never buy this reason.’
‘Why do you care? If they dare fire you, I will go and buy the school…and then you can become the principal and she can work under you.’
Bani giggled on this statement and then laughed out loud as she realized that Jai was actually being serious.
She knotted his tie deftly and then proceeded to dry his damp hair, which he always left half wet in his hurry to get ready for Office.
Sitting on the bed side, Jai caught her slim waist and pulling it towards her, planted a wet, slobbery kiss on her exposed midriff, as she finished drying his hair. She quickly pulled herself away before he could get anyway further.
‘There…’ she fixed his hair with the comb and handed over his blazer to him. Just as she was about to go downstairs again, he held her back by her waist and kissing her hard on the nape of her neck, said, ‘Do you know, there was a time, when I could even fix up a breakfast for myself? And now you have spoilt me so rotten, that I can’t even dry my own hair properly.’
Bani looked back at him and pecked him affectionately on his cheeks and then glancing the time on the table clock, squealed in panic and ran out of the room, escaping Jai’s hold on her.
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‘Finish your breakfast…’ Bani force-fed Jai with the last piece of Apple that was kept in the plate, while he tried to protest.
‘I am full, Bani…Noo’ he struggled with his mouth full. Refusing to listen to him, she next held the glass of juice and made him drink it, while he gave her a baleful look but complied anyway.
Wiping his face with the cloth napkin, he stared at his wife in and said in disbelief, ‘No one in my entire life has treated me like this…I feel like I am a 5 year old, being force fed by a harried mother at the breakfast table!’
Bani neatly wrapped Jai’s BP medicines in a plastic pouch and put it in the left hand pocket of his trousers, reminding him to take it in the afternoon, even though, she herself sent a message to him as a reminder everyday at sharp 12.
Bani smiled at Jai’s statement and said, ‘If you start having your food in time, pick out your own clothes and take your medicines without a daily reminder, I won’t have to be a Mother to you.’
Jai stared at his wife for sometime, smiling slowly, till she looked up at him, after having adjusted her Sari and ready to leave for school along with Jai and said, ‘Why are you looking like that?’
He pushed back the chair to its place and replied with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, ‘Am I not allowed to look at you?’
She giggled in response and said, ‘If I didn’t allow you, its very unlikely that you will listen to me.’
They both laughed and holding her waist, he drew her nearer to his chest and she said, ‘No…Bhavesh and Hari Singhji are around…’
‘Let them be…it’s not their wife that I am romancing.’
Bani laughed once again and said, ‘I am really late today…can we please leave now?’
Not paying any heed to her pleadings, he whispered into her ears, ‘Do you know how much I love you?’
Bani gazed back at him, her face alighting with pleasure and happiness and feeling extremely shy, she kept her palm over his eyes and said, ‘We will continue this conversation at night…now, we are both getting late for work.’
Bani’s Kindergarten School
The Principal had stared rather disapprovingly at Bani, who as feared arrived at school when the meeting was about to end. Muttering some hasty apologies, she had escaped being censured this time since the Principal appreciated the fact that Bani was very professional in her approach and extremely good at dealing with small children.
Though everyone at school knew Bani Walia, no one knew that she was Jai Walia’s wife considering Jai was one of Mumbai’s most prominent faces and his name appeared on the business section of the newspaper or the television on regular intervals. Since Jai hated parties and rigidly avoided socializing of the Page 3 kinds, very few people knew about his personal life and hence, Bani enjoyed blissful anonymity at school, only known to everyone as an excellent teacher.
While having lunch, the group of teachers began chattering about their family lives, as is the norm when women normally gather together.
Mrs. Mathur, the oldest of the lot, shook her head and said, ‘My daughter has been applying to all these unheard of foreign universities…I won’t let her go anywhere out of India…’
The more updated and modern Ms. Parul gave a snort and said, ‘Why not? Everyone sends their children abroad for education. I have already made plans for my future children to go and study in the US.’
Mrs. Singh in a bit to irritate Ms. Parul commented slyly, ‘I hope you have discussed the finances of this situation with your future, imaginary husband.’
There was some very badly muffled giggles and Mrs. Banerjee said wisely, ‘I think its more important that children should make the final decision regarding their career…after all its as important as the decision they make for their personal life, isn’t it?’
The middle-aged Mrs. Iyer quipped in a motherly manner, ‘Children do keep us on our toes for our entire lives, don’t they? I can’t imagine going back home and not finding my daughter throwing tantrums on the clothes she wants to buy or reprimanding my son to stop playing video games and study instead…however mad they drive you, a house never becomes a home without them…and a couple can never be a complete family without the bonding of a child.’
Everyone seemed to agree wholeheartedly on this view and then suddenly their gaze fell on Bani, who was always the quietest and most reticent of the lot, only answering if asked anything and never volunteering her opinions. She was much liked and admired by her colleagues for her very traditional Indian sort of good looks, her quiet, shy demeanor which was different from the women in her age-group. And more so, her affection and patience in dealing with small children, in a period of less than 8 months, Bani had become one of the most popular teachers in the school and the tiny tots never seemed to have enough of their ‘Ms. Bani.’
Mrs. Singh affectionately addressed her and said, ‘For how long have you been married, Bani?’
Feeling conscious at the attention on her, she spoke in a low, hesitant voice, ‘A little more than 2 years.’
Ms. Parul gave a friendly smile and said, ‘Was it a love marriage?’
The conservative Mrs. Mathur snorted and said, ‘Does she look like the kinds who will fight with her parents and marry anyone she wishes?’ and then giving a very benevolent look at Bani said, ‘When I look for a bride for my son, I would want someone just like our Bani here…’
Ms. Parul said grumpily, ‘What is wrong with marrying out of choice?’
Before an argument could begin, Bani said softly, ‘It was an arranged marriage.’ And hoped that the topic would end here, but she had held everyone’s interest once again.
Mrs. Iyer asked politely, ‘And what do your husband do?’
Feeling even more awkward, she said vaguely, ‘He has his own business…’
There were general murmurs of, ‘Oh…must be a small-time trader or owner of a shop or something.’
Relieved that she did not have to talk in any detail about her ‘husband’, Bani had just placed some art-work on her lap which she intended to make the kids to the next day, but the garrulous, Mrs. Mathur went on, ‘So now that you have completed two years, when are you planning your first child?’
Bani went pink in her face and lifted her head to look at the older lady, too embarrassed to reply. But nobody else seemed to think that they were being intrusive and took it for granted, that between women, everything could be shared, especially details of married life and children.
Mrs. Banerjee patted Bani fondly on her head and said, ‘You should have one daughter at least, someone to pass on your beautiful eyes and hair to.’
Everyone laughed teasingly at Bani and agreed to it.
‘So when are you planning the first baby?’
The color on Bani’s cheeks went from pink to a deep shade of crimson and lowering her head, she spoke like a child being held up in front of a room full of strangers and asked to sing an unpracticed rhyme. ‘I…we…my husband, I mean…we haven’t discussed this...’
A disapproving gasp went through the room and Mrs. Singh said, ‘Arre what is there to discuss? Are we American’s or what to wait till we turn 40 and then go about adopting children in front of the TV from all parts of the world? Do you know, Mr. Singh and I had our Amit before we even celebrated our first anniversary?’
Bani wondered if Mrs. Singh had gotten herself pregnant by Mr. Singh pre-martially but did not voice her opinion.
Mrs. Mathur agreed with the thought and said, ‘Yes Bani...you should not delay the first child…then you can wait for a couple of years and leisurely plan the next one…’
Mrs. Iyer who normally was a reserved person, spoke uncharacteristically, ‘Even I agree there…after all how much can a husband and wife share with one another after a point…even love gets boring, isn’t it?’
Bani stared at the lot of them and then flushed at the thought of Jai’s never ceasing passion and wondered about the look on their faces if they ever read her thoughts, especially the details of the recent holiday she took with Jai to celebrate their second anniversary in the South of France. All that Bani had come back to Mumbai with was a lot of touristy brochures picked up from the Airport, because between the Airport and the Hotel Room, Jai had not let her see anything else besides him.
Breaking her thoughts, Mrs. Banerjee put in the final word, ‘However beautiful a wife is, for how long can she keep a man’s interest centered on her and however loving a husband is, for how long can a woman just be happy centering her life around him? A child is the only bond that brings a man and woman closer and strengthens their marriage even further.’
The Principal who had been hearing the conversation in silence got up and smiling at the ladies gathered, looked at Bani, her earlier annoyance on her late coming vanished and said, ‘Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body.’
This thought was met with great appreciation and applause and when Bani finally walked back to the Car to take her home from school, the last few words kept ringing in her head…
Jai had messaged her saying that he would be coming late from work as he had to attend an important client dinner and hence, knowing that she had her evening free and not much work to do, she ended up visiting her sister-in-law, Karuna’s home.
Karuna’s Home
Even before the Car had parked, Karuna’s 5 year old daughter, Anu came rushing outside the house and tottered all the way across the lawns, yelling with delight, ‘Mami…Mami…’
Bani gave a brilliant smile at the angelic girl and swooped her lovingly into her arms, smothering her with innumerous kisses all over her chubby face.
‘How is my sweetie cutie? Aww…you look so nice in this pinafore dress, Anu…who got it for you? Mummy or Daddy?’
Anu’s eyes twinkled in delight at the compliment and she said in her sin
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