Chupanke Ki Saaza
-PART
15-
Caught in Between
Annie
hummed to herself as she gave one last look at the mirror. Today was going to
be one the most important days on her life – she had to look good.
"God,
you are gorgeous," she told her reflection, strapping on her four-inch heels.
"Jai will faint seeing you today!"
A
smile spread across her face as she thought about the two hour car drive to the
Mittal's meeting. Of course, she didn't plan
on her car being in servicing, it just happened. And when Jai informed her
of the meeting and offered a ride, she couldn't help but thank the heavens for
the opportunity. And being a city girl, she knew just how to use it!
A
car honked outside, bringing her out of her thoughts.
"He
is here!" she squealed in delight, before hurrying out the door, towards the
black mercedces in the driveway. However, as she approached the front seat
beside the driver, the tinted window rolled down to reveal the grinning face of
Bani Dixit. Annie's bag – from Gucci – slipped from her hands as she looked on
in horror.
On
the other hand, Bani couldn't help but smile as she watched the look of
happiness on Annie's face change first to shock and then to utter dread. For
the first time in her life, Bani was glad
she intimidated someone. And looking at Annie's excessive attire, she guessed
that the girl had a lot of hopes on
today.
Oops, Bani thought. Sorry honey, but today is my day!
Seeing
the glares passed between the two women, Jai began to curse his luck. Just great, he thought, shaking his
head. This is going to be the worst drive
of my life. Two girls, who hate eachother, stuck with me!
"Annie,"
he called, breaking up the non-verbal communication going between the two.
"Bani unexpectedly had to join us today - she has something to discuss with the
Mittals. Hope you don't mind?"
Annie
shook her head and bent down to retrieve her bag, causing her already-too-short
skirt to ride up her thighs two more inches. Believe it or not, Bani was the
first one to notice and quickly rolled up the window.
"Erm…
Jai?" she said, diverting his attention to hers. "Your button is undone."
Jai
looked down to see the first two buttons of his shirt open. He rolled his eyes.
"I always leave them open, don't tell
me you forgot that?"
Bani
smiled. Ofcourse she didn't forget! "Oh right… sorry, I will remember next
time!"
Just
then Annie slid into the back seat, shooting daggers at Bani.
"Good
morning Jai," Annie said with a smile, completely ignoring the other.
However,
it was Bani who answered cheerfully. Annie's irritation gave her happiness
beyond words! "Good morning Annie! I am glad to see you can join us today!"
"I
didn't know you were part of this project," Annie replied, coldly.
"Oh
come on sweety," Bani said, with an air of sarcasm. "I am the marketing manager of the Walias, I am in
every project! But Im shocked you are
in it as well. I was just telling Jai how advanced this is for you."
"Oh
no," Annie said quickly. "Its fine. Jai knows I can handle things like this!"
"But
still," Bani continued. "I think its best if we drop you off at the company, I
am sure we need someone to handle the other things, don't you think Jai?"
Jai
was caught off guard. "Erm… yeah, sure," he said uncertainly.
Annie,
however, was a fighter. "Please Ms. Dixit," she said. "I think I can handle it.
Either way, Jai needs someone to take notes, right Jai?"
"Umm…
yeah, yeah sure!" Jai said slowly, watching Bani's face carefully. He was literally
stuck in between two blades!
Bani
narrowed her eyes. This is war Annie,
she thought. And my experience is going
to cost you loads! "Okay," she said. "As you wish. But be careful, keeping
up with me is not easy." The threat
in her tone was obvious.
Annie
nodded, confident. She turned her attention to Jai. Bani or no Bani, she was not going to give up. "Oh Jai," she
said. "We match!"
Bani
looked from Jai to Annie, both of whom were wearing a light blue coloured
shirt.
"We
do!" Jai said with a smile. "It's a nice colour, it looks nice on-"
Bani
interrupted. "I picked it!"
The
other two turned to look at her. "What?" Annie asked.
"I
told Jai to wear this colour," she informed a surprised Annie. "It looks soo
nice on him, don't you think?"
Jai
shook his head in exasperation. He understood these signs well – Bani was
fighting hard to win against Annie.
"No,"
Annie said. "I think black looks the best on him. This colour makes him look a
bit dull!"
"Another
one of my choice," Bani said. "It was me
who told Jai how nice he looks in black and I believe that's why he changed his
closet!"
It
was a partial lie. Bani did declare how good Jai looks in black, back when they
were married, but she was definetly not
the first. However, after that incident, the number of black suits Jai owned
definetly increased!
"Of
course everyone knows Jai looks the
best in black," Annie said. "I am sure your opinion really had nothing to do
with it!"
Bani
let out a laugh. "Oh Annie, you are so nave! I was around for alot longer than
you think!"
Sensing
the growing argument between the two women, Jai decided it was best to
interfere, before things spiralled out of control. "How about some music?" he
said, before Annie could retort.
To
his bad luck, the radio just began the next argument.
"What
kind of music do you like Jai?" Annie asked, trying to get Jai's attention.
"Main
baathathi hoon," Bani answered, irritating the latter even more. "He doesn't
listen to music."
Annie
tried again. "Really Jai?"
"Of
course," Bani answered once again. "I am telling you. Jai is not really into
movies."
"But
you should watch them," Annie replied, ignoring Bani completely. "Are you free
tomorrow? We can go catch a movie together and you will see what you are
missing!"
Bani's
mouth fell open. If she wasn't wrong, Annie just asked Jai out. "He is busy,"
Bani said in a tight voice. "Hain na Jai?"
Once
again Jai was stuck. He would have loved
to go watch a movie, because unlike what Bani said, he definetly watched movies.
But at this point, he understood the glares Bani was passing, so he just nodded
his head.
Annie's
shoulders fell in disappointment. Yeh
Bani ko main nahi choodongi, she thought vengefully. Because of her, my whole plan is ruined!
"How
about the day after tomorrow?" Annie tried yet again.
Bani
answered on the cue."He has a meeting!"
"But
I am jis secretary and last I checked
he has no meeting!"
"That's
cause I just scheduled it this morning."
More like right
now,
Jai added to himself.
"But
you can't do that without asking me!" Annie said, outraged.
Bani
smirked. "Well, I just did."
"But
what if Jai has other commitments? Its my job to make sure his schedule is
made!"
"Even
if he has other commitments, one thing is clear – he can't go to the movie with
you!"
"His
weekends are free, so I am sure, we could catch a movie on Saturday!"
"Its
called family. He has a family to take care of!"
"I
am sure three hours wouldn't kill them!"
Bani
was very annoyed now. "What part of he is not interested do you not get?"
"And
what part of "movies-are-good-for-you" don't you get?" Annie fumed.
It
was stalemate, in the middle of which Jai was unwantedly caught. Its worse than a cat fight, Jai said to
himself. Yeh Bani ko bhi last minute mein
decision change karna tha? And I can't even say no; everyone supports her, including my own parents!
There
was moment of silence, before Annie said. "I think its upto to Jai to decide!"
"Fine!
What do you think Jai?" Bani asked.
Oh shit! Jai thought to
himself. How could he pick one side without pissing off the other? "Umm… I
think I could go on Saturday," he began.
Bani
passed a "don't-you-dare-say-yes" look, causing Jai to trail off. "… but," he
amended after a minute. "like she said, I am not into movies… but I could try
them… someday… you know."
An
awkward silence spread across the car. While Jai didn't specifically pick
anyone's side, both the girls were annoyed.
"We
are here," Jai announced, thanking heaven for arriving early. Bani didn't reply and just got out of the car,
slamming the door shut.
Yeh Annie ki
baachi ka kuch karna padega, she thought angrily as she went inside.
Aur who bhi jaldi!
"Whats
her problem?" Annie asked, as soon as
Bani was out of earshot.
Jai
smiled awkwardly. "You know… Bani really looses her head at times."
"Tell
me about it," Annie said, shaking her head. "She was pouncing on me for no
reason!"
"Don't
mind her," he answered heavily. "She doesn't accept things she doesn't like!"
Annie
laid a hand on Jai's shoulder, faking sympathy.
"Poor you… How do you put up with her?"
At
this Jai let out a laugh. "Put up? I think Bani offers a great deal of
entertainment… you never get bored
with her!"
*
* *
Bani
pressed a thousand rupee bill into the waiter's hands. "You know what to do,"
she said.
The
waiter nodded and walked away. It was a few minutes since she arrived, and Jai
was busying talking to the clients. She, however, immersed herself on kicking
Annie out.
"I
don't think bribing the waiter is allowed," said a quiet voice.
Bani
turned around and found a young man in his twenties, looking at her. "Its
called a tip."
"For
not even offering a drink to you?" the man replied, with a laugh.
Bani
shrugged. "Its none of your business."
"I
am sorry, I didn't mean to intrude. But I haven't really seen anyone bribe
someone in real life!"
Bani
smiled, not even remotely angry. "I know, I wasn't exposed until a couple of
days ago."
"Accha?
How did you find out?"
Bani
smirked. "When you are with Jai Walia, you learn a lot of things."
The
man nodded in understanding. "But he is a genius, so I guess it all works out."
Bani
was surprised. "You know Jai?"
"Who
doesn't?" he asked rhetorically. He
then extended his hand, "Hi, I am Neil Desai."
"Bani
Dixit," she replied, shaking his hand. "Nice to meet you."
"How
come you are here?"
"Long
story short," Bani said. "I am here to get rid off someone."
"That
makes no sense!"
Bani
smiled. "Good. Lets keep it that way!"
Neil
laughed nervously.
"Whats
wrong?" Bani asked, watching him rock back and forth on his toes.
Neil
shook his head. "Just nervous. I am presenting next."
Understanding
dawned to Bani. "Are you Mr. Desai from the Mittals?"
Neil
nodded.
"Well
good luck!" Bani said. "You are going to need it!"
"Why?"
"Because
Jai is going to grill you today," she answered.
Neil
gulped as fear spread into his eyes. "G…grill?"
"But
don't worry," she assured. "I will save you, if I must."
Neil
nodded in appreciation and left to begin his presentation. Just then a shriek
echoed through the crowd. A waiter, by accident,
dropped a glass of juice on Annie.
Bani
smiled, as she walked over to a murderous Annie, who was yelling at the waiter.
"Annie,"
Bani said, signalling the waiter to leave. "Leave the poor guy alone. He was
just doing his job!"
"SPILLING
THINGS ON ME IS HIS JOB?"
Bani
covered her ears. "Shut up," she said. "Don't make us even more embarrassed. Go
and get changed."
"but
I didn't bring anything," Annie answered, trying to remove the spreading orange
stain on her light blue shirt.
"Oh my god," Bani said suddenly, as if
the world was going to end. "Is that orange juice?"
Annie
nodded in fear. "Why? Whats wrong with orange jucie?"
"It
will never come out," she answered. "You have leave, right now! Get
this shirt to the dry cleaners ASAP!"
Annie
didn't want to leave. "I…I...will just wash it out."
"NO,"
Bani replied in a panic-filled voice. "You cant wait that long. You have to go.
NOW!"
Just
then Jai arrived. "Why are you both making such a fuss? Annie, whats wrong?"
Annie
seemed to be tears, as she tried to rub her shirt. "The stupid waiter spilled
juice on me!"
Sympathy
overtook Jai's emotions as he handed her his handkerchief. However, Bani
quickly grabbed it from his hands, saying "Its okay Jai, she is just leaving.
Iss ki koi zaroorat nahi hai."
Jai
was astonished as Bani took Annie's hand and began dragging her to the exit.
"Take a taxi," he heard he say to a sobbing Annie. "And you can have the day
off. I will take care of everything!"
"This
was a new shirt," Annie said, failing miserably to wipe the stain
off. "I spent half my salary on this."
"Koi
baath nahi," Bani answered, not even remotely sympathetic. "Buy a new one."
It
was after a few minutes that Bani returned, having sent Annie to a taxi, and
took a seat next to Jai.
"Kush?"
Jai muttered under his breath, for the meeting began and Mittals were busy
presenting their issues. "Bechari ko ghar bejdiya?"
Bani
didn't answer, and pretended to pay attention to Neil's presentation.
"I
am curious," he continued. "Do orange juice stains really never come out?"
She
tried to contain her smile, but failed. "Not if you put it in the washing
machine."
The
corners of Jai's mouth lifted slightly. He was very amused.
*
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Thanks for the patience guys, i know its been a while since i updated. Loved your comments! 😉 Keep them coming! 😆😃
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