Bani here had tried Jai's number , innumerable times on the cell phone but then her courage would break at last minute & last number . Finaly she could gather enough courage after determinately self counseling , she picked up her purse and walked out of her home to the local PCO and dialed the number .
Seeing an unknown number, jai didn't pick the call at once .but then
he did after three rings .
"hello " a quivering sound reached jai's ear .jai at once
recognized her voice .Bani's voice.ohh its bani . His breath was just cut in throat .He could
swear his heart beat increasing rapidly in anticipation and apprehension.
"hello .i am bani " bani voce again rang in his ears, this
time pristine clear
"yes " jai finally
replied.
"I have found the reasons" bani replied counting numbers to cool herself. somehow she was not comfy talking to this guy over phone with shop keeper around, gawking at her bani passed an embarrassed smile, the shop keeper went up to look his work leaving her alone ..the vehicles honking disturbed them for few seconds giving enough time for jai to think over to react .
"okay , can u meet at the coffee shop ?" Jai invited her for a coffee. He didn't want to discuss the matter in front of adi and more so over phone ' truth was he wanted to see her for once, listen to her voice from near ..
Hmm bani thought for a second
" at park road ,sunrise coffee shop at 6 pm " said jai
Bani nodded her head affirming it in her voice "okay " She put the receiver down.
Adithya was also present in the cabin found it funny to see Jai Walia being tongue tied for the first time in his life.. He could bet even for JAI's first seminar /presentation also .jai was not so self-conscious.
Bani was now confused.
Coffee shop was near to her residence area but then she didn't want to tell her parents she was going to meet Jai walia and whether it would be right to meet him
without parents knowledge and? How will I go out for so long hours ?without a
proper reason . how will I face the man again . last time experience was horrid
this time. Yuckssssss
Bani kahaan phaasi tu ? she taunted herself .when she found
Daksh in the lawn cleaning his motor bike ' and soon the devilish mind in her
made up plans
Bani had to bow down to Daksh's demand of a new shirt to be gifted to him for this help.
Bani dressed in white blouse and black jeans came into the
coffee shop. She looked around to find Jai seated in one of the corner tables, immersed in reading a magazine. Dressed in white shirt ,
and black trousers . His top two collar
buttons open. Her eyes fell on his right
hand gripping the glass ,the sleeve was folded to two folds. Showing off his arm , whitish in color with
black curl hair . bani once again looked
at jai's face which showed a tanned skin color . The working under an air-
conditioned room may be the reason for the change in skin complexion.she now guessed both had chosen same colours of dress ..
He is quiet a handsome guy .isnt it ? a voice rung in bani's ears. Unknowingly bani nodded her head yes then coming out of her drooling session looked at the person and the snapped
"shut up daku .now come on" she tried to put her hand around
his arm but Daksh clever enough to understand what she was going to do , smiled
"naa .bani our deal was just to drop u here from home .now me going with my friends for the first show in theater"
"noo u cant do that . You will leave me here with that Walia . What about my going back home safe ?"
"Ohh " he scratched
his head pretending to think for few minutes walked towards the table where Jai
was present reading the magazine .
"hmm Mr.Walia " jai attention turned to Daksh and then his dream girl standing behind him .
Jai masked the apprehensions from his face and greeted them
cordially.
" hi bani, hello ummm
" jai
"hello sir , nice
meeting u , I am Daksh Shukla ,a friend
of bani " jai shook his hands politely inviting them to take seats .
Daksh and bani took their seats , the waiter came.
Jai asked what was their choice of preference ?
Daksh asked in hurry
" well sir , if u don't mind will u drop Bani back home ? I have a movie
plan with my friends, I need to go now "
Jai looked at bani . He could say , she was in killer mood . jai nodded his head hiding the smile and relief from his face that Daksh is not Bani's boy friend.
Daksh gave a killer smile to Bani saying "bye bani , have a good time , do call me once u reach home safe "
Bani didn't say anything . Finally they were left alone. The waiter came back with the order.
Jai took a cube of sugar and added it in the coffee , giving
her enough time to cope up with her nervousness. As he mixed the sugar cube in
the coffee with the spoon. He asked
So what r your
reason? Or reasons ?" his eyebrow raising , as he relaxed in his seat ,
spreading his left hand on the next seat
back rest .
Bani looked at him putting her cup of tea down on the table,
she had planned to introduce Daku as her boy friend so that jai could back off
but Daku being smart himself had introduced as friend of hers and left her with
him .. urgghh . How come this plan get so flop but then wait let me use it for
once ,she thought
"I and Daksh . the guy u just met now are '" Bani played
with her curly hair lock that she had left during combing her hair and clipping
it . bani 's little moves , drew jai's attention to the curls .
I and daksh , the guy u met just now.. we r ----"
noticing his apt attention on her moves. She removed
instantly and again repeated the sentence but this time jai completed it
"friends Right "
Bani 's attention shoot up .
Jai smiled giving the flirtiest smile ever. He picked up his
coffee cup slowly sipping it.
"What would u have said ? hmm boy friend I guess ?"
Bani was tongue tied.. She could swear , her head nodded yes .
"well but it doesn't seem like that to me. How can a guy leave his girl friend in another guy's hands when that guy is most possibly interested in her?"
Bani " well u r mistaking ,he trusts me and is concerned for me so ?"
"so he left u here ' wow what a
show of concern. " jai let a deep sigh
"why cant you say no to this alliance ?" bani enquired
"why should I do ? I and my family , like you and your family. There is no problem from our side and then it looks same from ur parents side as well .. " jai reasoned it out as he could tell her parents were interested in Jai as the groom for all the +qualities his status and background brought .
"I don't like this . cant u spare me off ."
"tell me the reason .one valid one . that will suffice .and u will be off from this "
Now she thought about the truth that would probably help her getting out of the clutches of this place and him .This thing about her was known to only her parents and grandma .They had warned her not to disclose it to any one else as it would bring negative vibration about her . Bani till now did as they said even Daksh, Pia didn't know about it .
"well see I am telling u the truth . I had suffered with Tuberculosis. a contagious pulmonary disease " when she said this she had closed her eyes realising in the painful 6-8month period that she and her family suffered when they got to know about her sickness and then doc's discovering it simultaneously about three years back . Her parents worried over her health condition.
TB considered as deadly contagious, airborne disease spread by mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Old times , society used to alienate the patient and their family members so that it wont spread to them similar treatment like Plague, leprosy .
Today medicine is available and the disease can be cured most times .Bani also got cured by taking the full course of medicine . Bani had successfully recovered from the early stage of the disease but still their parents were cautious 'Bani is now healthy girl with no illness .
Bani's parents were worried as even now this disease did hold the social stigma and may become a hindrance for their daughter's bright future in terms of "rishta ' where people want hale and healthy girl as daughter in law"
When Jai heard it he was little taken a back .it took time
for him to comprehend what she was saying and then first thought was she was lying..
Bani opened her eyes to see the reaction that her parents had always presumed about..from last few years
Jai looked at her intently, she smiled warmly.
"that's it. I know its No . I know it " Bani replied confidently . She got up from her seat. Pushing the chair back.
" I am an asthma patient
Bani " his voice low as he looked at her compassionately . Bani sat down in her
place with a jerk .
"u r lying mr.walia " bani replied wetting her dry lips with her pink tongue dragging his attention .
"I am not bani . Like u , I am allergic to dust not exactly asthma I think .as doc says. Yours is cured now. So what is the worry or fuss about it ?"
Bani looked at him. Whether he was serious or joking about his health condition but he seemed to be serious and determined.
"I definitely have no probs with your , this health condition unless its HIV or Aids we r talking about ?"
"but bani , now u got a real reason to reject me .. my
health .even though I am fit and fine doing my daily chores with juvenile energy ."
"look mr.walia .i am not joking ." bani squared her
shoulders looking up to his face sternly
Jai could see she was hurt.
"neither I am joking bani . I was just saying the reality . I am not offending u or insulting u . "he replied
Bani saw him .she didn't say anything but got up to go. jai
looked at her picking up her small black
lady purse .
" Wait bani " he ordered loudly , the entire restaurant looked at them. Bani stood consciously as the people stared at them .one person stopping her and telling that Jai had called her.
Bani grit her teeth as jai came putting his black coat on his shoulder lazily. She could swear if it was not the restaurant then she would at least give him two blows on his back just like the ones given to Daksh in shopping complex.
Jai took hold of her arm and tightly holding guided her
towards his BMW car .he lazily opened the front door of his car , getting in,
he switched the keys for the side door to open and bani sat down .
"look Bani. Daksh, your friend had told me to take care of u properly." he mocked
" moreover I have to take care of my would be wife "he smiled devilishly . Bani grit her teeth
Cursing god umpteenth time for throwing this man into her life disturbing her sanity.
Bani settled in the car but then as jai took the car out of
the parking lot and main Road .Bani rolled the windows down. Giving access for the
outside humid polluted air to come in, not bothering about the air-condition
running inside. Jai sighed inwards to prevent from telling her off about the AC
and car window .
Bani's attention was outside. While jai's concentration on
the road . He was driving at moderate speed . bani's house came just after
10minutes .
She got out of the car. she was praying none of her family members see jai .she could have asked him to stop near the start of lane but not after his "aids talk" .
Bani just closed the door and was about to open the wrought iron gates when she heard his voice
" bani ur purse"
She hit her head lightly for forgetting the hand purse .
"your brain is not there . it is here " jai pointed to her knees . bani glared at him . She was not in mood to give a reply not now as she was afraid of her dad seeing her '
"chill bani . why do u get high so easily ?" bani looked at jai taking deep breath . she was going to retort when door of her house opened and her papa stood there. Seeing Nishikant ji walking on the lawn and coming upto the wrought iron gates, he opened the latch .
Nishikanth looked at bani and then at jai. Jai smiled promptly doing a Namaste. Nishikant
also responded him inviting him to come inside while looking at his daughter. Bani
to get inside .
Bani didn't utter a word and walked inside. Dragging her legs making unwanted sounds. She was not sure what was going to await her inside the 4walls of her home.
"pls come inside Mr.Walia "
"Its okay mr.Dixit (jai wanted to call uncle but something prevented him from saying so ) . I just gave lift to bani as she stood waiting for a taxi on the park road" jai had partially lied but he didn't want to let them know why they had met and definitely didn't want to spoil his reputation .
Nishikant didn't know how to react well he was not informed
about his daugter's whereabouts, so'
Jai could sense the hesitation of a parent and the gussa also of not being told whereabouts ..
"thankyou beta " replied Nishikant .
"please no formalities uncle . (this time uncle word slipped before he could control. Jai didn't regret as he liked nishikanth calling him beta ) " saying so jai took leave .
+++++
Next morning, a phone call came from the Walia's house to Dixit residence saying
"yeh rishtaa humme manzoor hain "
The dixits were more than happy , they were elated.Jai Walia was going to be their son in law . such a big, rich, prosperous family good people bani was going to get all happiness, love ,care.
Bani gritted her teeth.. she was not happy .Her family was not happy over Bani's attitude. They weren't against her . if she had a valid reason they would go on .. if she loved any other person , caste, religion kept aside .things would have been different .they would consider ..But then there was no such thing and hence they were not listening to her child tantrum.
Everyone started pouring good wishes to bani who stood dumbly as she remembered his hoarse voice declaring last night in the dimly lit road by the street lamps and the moon
"The offer from my side still stands positive . I have no qualms about your health, wealth or education even your looks, beauty. if u still have any problem. Tell /convince your parents with that little brain and logics of yours "
Bani wanted to know and ask what was in her that captured his attention so much ? why and how was she more attractive than those glam girls in Bollywood or brainy one's in the business world . but right then she was not in a mood to say anything .. and more over the questions .
Nishikant dixit went to Walia residence to invite walia's
for the muhurat for engagement and shaadi ceremonies..
+++++++
Soon the engagement date was fixed and then party was also held. It wasn't huge one but confined to family members of Walias and Dixits and some near and dear family friends.
Bani was dressed up in a tangy orange colour lehenga and
choli . the choli had the back wide open with few strings to tie the ends and a hook . the choli was short and showed
her midriff . Pia and bani's mum took all pains in making bani ready as she
looked least interested in it . bani was doing everything mechanically . she
was not liking anything around her . Her own people conspiring against her .
Bani still looked beautiful in the
awefully done heavy makeup by Pia .
jai was in creame colour sherwani with the nehru collared neck looking as handsome as ever . his face reflecting the joy of his heart. Jai's family members also were dressed accordingly looking happy for their Jai .
bani's family was alos same... happy for bani...
as the pooja began and then jai was asked to put he ring into her finger and then bani also was asked .. bani didnt even look once at the ring Jai had put neither did she took the care about the ring hshe put around jai's finger .
after sometime, Jai didnt like the overdose of make up on
her face . and had made his opinion openly to her .
":bani ur face is made up too much .. couldn't u make it simple."
" I love doing over make up mr.walia ."
"I am not liking it bani " he pressed his opinion on her which was a truth as bani knew she was looking not so beautiful with this style yet she was adamant .
" I am not liking you mr.walia but still I am bearing this
and you . Same way u also have to '" she
replied back . Jai could sense her anger very much . He promised himself that
by the time they get married he will win her heart .
" Bani , thanks for enlightening me that we need to discuss health issues before marriage apart
from hobbies, aims and aspirations ."
jai spoke jokingly
"well you are welcome" bani replied back .
++++
After the engagement ceremony , jai handed her the latest cellphone with connection as gift . he thought they would talk for hours sweetly like any new couples to be..
"I already posses a cell phone which works so don't need a replacement"
"ohh really then how come u used a local booth to contact me "
"I don't give calls to any aira ghaira"
"bani this aira ghaira is now ur fianc .understood ?" his eyes glowed with certain warning
Bani bit her lips regretting her choice of words. She took
the cell phone but had decided to throw it in dustbin soon or pass it to her
servant ..
&&&& pls coment π³π³π³
POsitive and negative opinions are welcomed , pls do silent readers..