Unique Number 7
Ho rahega milan
Part 1
23.48 hours
21 December
2006
At the
gates of Walia Mansion
It was 23.50 hours, on the night of the 21st of December
2006, when the elite Black Cat IF-KSian team moved into Walia Mansion
in Uber-Stealth Mode.
We were already late – we had less than two days to set up operations.
Our briefing had been thorough but the plan was complicated. Well, it's not
like the elite force is called in when things are simple! DU UH.
Our mission, of course, was no secret. The Jai-Bani Milan was devoutly
wished for through the length and breadth of the KSForum. Whatever their type,
location, race or creed, if there was one thing that distinguished a KSian, it
was sheer devotion to the JB Ship. Yes, on occasion, KSF has been split down
the middle. If JaiWorshippers lashed out at Bani when their saw their God cry,
BaniDefenders have always been ready to fight for their Queen and protect her
if need be, even from her Lord-Protector. We have been torn asunder with debate
and discussion, but one goal has always united us all – to see JB together.
Rising above differences, KSF came together. Repeated requests were put
in for Kissology Sessions, and calls for a reprisal of June 19 have been
growing increasingly strident. Unfortunately KS, though a highly informed,
top-of-the-line assortment of professionals is at best advisory in nature. It
is the role of KSF to react, chide, praise and guide, but we cannot instruct,
we cannot dictate. Still, matters had come to such a pass that there was no
choice left in the matter. We needed to act.
To take you back a little, the prevailing mood on KSF toward the end of
September was despair. Anguish was rife. The baby Krishna Walia – the Beacon of
the Future was declared dead. There seemed no road ahead, only road blocks. Frustration
was common. KSians were reported to have thrown missiles at their televisions
and discussions took on the hue of breast beating. Near-riots broke out, indeed
tears flowed freely. And since then, we have waited in vain for new rays of
sunlight to break through. They have not. Instead added complications in the
form of PeaBrain twisted our hearts and added to our misery.
The only thing still keeping us reverting to the canon was the fact that
Queen Bani was still officially in residence in Walia Mansion.
Going by the adage that possession is 9/10ths of the law, we took heart. As
long as she was there incumbent, there could be no upheaval so bad. Still,
threatened by several upcoming bizarre track changes, KSF voted in favour of
action: it was decided that we would take matters into our own hands.
Plans were drawn up and strategy chalked out. And on the night of
December 21, a team of elite Black Cats circled Walia Mansion,
and successfully gained entry from various strategic entrances. Black Cat (henceforth
BC) Raaga Om was given charge of disarming Security Chief Tony Butler, which
she accomplished successfully by vamping him (a long cherished dream) and later
divesting him of weapons. One down, X to go.
The strategy was that the residents of Walia Mansion
not discover the loss of their security or domestic staff - it was no part of
our plan to be discovered… but more of that later.
To cut a long story short, the elite team managed to insidiously replace
all internal staff by 06.00 hours, 23 December. Tony Butler, however was
released after thorough briefing. Although his loyalties have never been proven
to satisfaction, his cooperation was essential and BC Raaga was entrusted with
keeping an eye on him. Indeed, we fear that several times, she had both eyes on
him.
With a proven track record of unswerving loyalty to the King, Black Cat
Piscean won the right to go in disguise and serve His Majesty morning tea.
Although she near came to fainting at the sight of his bare throat, she revived
enough to serve him tea, and we understand, grabbed some physical contact under
pretext of picking up the tea tray. Later, BC Pi quite out-stepped her brief by
burning His Majesty's existing dressing gowns. That was not our target at this
time, and BC Piscean was indeed mildly reprimanded, but since no one disagreed
that it needed to be done, there was
no real problem there. BC Pi was seen grinning from ear to ear for a full 27
hours.
Once the members of the Walia clan left for the day, the team swung into
action. The task was logistically complex and needed all our ingenuity and
expertise. We needed to set up an intricate network of overhead tracks and
pulleys throughout Walia
Mansion. Made of finest
invisible elf-wrought fiberglass, this network would not be discernable to the
naked eye. The objective was simple: we would need to suspend a certain 'item'
from the ceiling, but since we did not know in advance where such 'item' would
be needed, we needed to plan for every contingency. And this is what the
network accomplished – by our timing, within 2:14 minutes, the load could be
brought from any given point in Walia
Mansion to another
through a series of rapid tracking movements and quick shifts in direction.
BC Aditee and BC Sangita were indispensable here – well-known for their
organisational skills, they set to efficiently. BC Poo and BC Tisha took up the
slack the next shift. A Byzantine overhead network was in place in 24 hours. It
was tested and found to work well and smoothly. The load would be able to reach
every single point in Walia
Mansion.
The next part was tricky. It needed all our guile, for there was no
alternative to this segment. We needed to convince BC Mistletoe.
It was the turn of a few smooth-tongued, persuasive KSians to take
command – BC Anushka, BC
Vazz, BC
Rupy were called in. Lest mere persuasion fail, we also commandeered several
other KSians to add voice to our request. It was already 16.00 hours, 23
December and we had still not obtained BC MT's consent.
Black Cat MT's objections of course were rooted in the
indignity of it all. She could not see why, she of all people, must subject to
being harnessed, trussed up, hauled overhead with ropes and left suspended in
Walia Mansion for two whole days – the 24th and 25th of
December. It took some convincing. We explained that it was a long established
tradition all over the world during Christmas Eve and Christmas for Mistletoe
to be hung up in doorways and around the house. When couples find themselves
suddenly together under Mistletoe, it is quite obligatory for them to kiss.
Indeed, the leaf released pheromones quite essential and suited to kickstart
this exercise. This long-honoured tradition has been responsible for increasing
the love quotient across the world. We were quite certain it could not fail in Walia Mansion.
Her cooperation therefore was crucial.
BC MT was unrelenting. The herb, she declared, must be imported and used
instead. We could not agree – there could be no logic in putting up a leaf,
when we had the real thing. It would look silly, she argued – which was why, we
brought in BC SoapBubble who doubles up as witch on alternate days, to cast a
little spell. Mistletoe would be camouflaged to look as natural as possible –
in the end, it would be the spirit that counted. Finally, BC MT could see that
with her permission or no, she was going to be suspended from the ceiling,
wheeled this way and about, and she gave her reluctant consent.
Rehearsals were carried out, and the plan was working well.
Stage-managed by BC SoapAddict through a series of well-placed phone calls, and
the pulling of several strings, we managed to clear Walia Mansion
of all its residents. Rano and Sahil were packed off with friends they didn't
know they had. Aditya, Jigyasa and family, along with Dadi and Maasi were also
dispatched on likely errands. For Christmas, Mr and Mrs Walia would be quite
alone.
Christmas Eve dawned.
***
Part 2
It was a cold day in Mumbai. December had brought with it the promised chills and day was taking
its time breaking. Bani woke up early, but pulled up the covers under her chin,
reluctant to leave its warmth. She still slept on the right side of the bed, a
habit she had not yet managed to break. That thought brought a memory with it:
the warmth of a man ensconced beside her, his breath, his presence, his arm
brushing hers… She resolutely pushed her razaai aside and got up.
Life had been in limbo these past few months. On the very verge of
collapse, at the very tip of the cliff, her marriage had come to a standstill.
The storm that had assailed their lives had eased, the winds had died. Her
marriage stood perilously at the edge, like a fragile ball where a touch could
send it rolling down the treacherous rocks, or rolled back from the edge. She
had not dared touch it.
They had lost their baby. She had wanted, so badly she had wanted, to
sob on his shoulder, feel the comfort of his arms around her, beg his
forgiveness for having failed him – she had done much to cause him unhappiness,
hoping he would hate her, but this was one blow she had never intended to deal
him. Did he blame her for it? she asked herself as she had done so many times
before; did he believe she had wanted that,
for their child not to exist? Was that why he had hardly spoken to her since?
Was that why he had turned so cold, so withdrawn, like a life placed in cold
storage? She could not remember when she last saw him smile. It was a heavy
burden to bear – to know that you had destroyed the man you love.
At least he had stopped drinking like he used to, she thought. After his
return from Dubai,
that was all he would do – retreat into his study with a decanter, a tub of ice
and a glass, often sleeping there all night – meeting no one, needing no one.
She had watched him do it night after night, till last week – she could
bear it no more. She had barged in and told him angrily: "Yeh jo aap roz roz
aise akele pee rahen hai, Mr Walia, kabhi aapne socha hai, ke aapke sehat pe
kya asar ho sakti hai?"
He'd been surprised and then quite sarcastic: "Aur isse aapko matlab,
Mrs Bani Walia?"
"Mujhe isse matlab hai – lekin mai aapse behas nahin karna chahti," she
had told him and called for Tony: "Tony, is tray ko le jao, aur bahar phenk do.
Aaj ke baad ye yahaan is ghar mein nazar nahin aana chahiye."
Jai had slurred, "Is ghar mein orders dene waali tum kaun hoti ho?"
"Mai kaun hoti hun, yeh Tony achchi tarah samjhta hai." And with that
she had left.
But her words had had effect – he had not retreated into his study this
whole week.
Over the months, many differences had been cleared, many explanations
had been given. Bani had apologised, told Jai exactly why she had had to behave
the way she did – he had listened, with a glass of whiskey in hand, frowning
deeply, but saying nothing. The baby's miscarriage was an accident, he knew
that, but he still shut her out completely. She could tell no one of the weight
in her heart and he would not put his down for a moment. It was as it he had
cloaked himself in a thick cloud that she could not penetrate. He was angry –
very angry, but the lava was topped with a film of ice.
Not even the truth about Park
Road had moved him – he had seemed relieved that
he had not been responsible for her mother's death, but she had the feeling it
didn't matter now. He didn't bellow for her these days, or treat her to tirades
like he used to and there was no sign that he had forgiven her. Perhaps he never would, thought Bani
desolately, perhaps I succeeded in
killing his love for me, perhaps I have killed his capacity to love, crushed
his spirit for ever. Tears welled up and rolled down her cheeks – they
weren't the first, or the last. Perhaps
we are never meant to be happy together.
She went downstairs and found the large house rather empty. There was
only Tony supervising two men lugging something into the hallway. "Tony, ye kya
ho raha hai?" she asked him.
T: Madam, kal Christmas hai, toh maine
socha ki ek Christmas Tree arrange karun, aur ghar bhar mein decorations kar
dun – Mr Walia likes it – unka kehna hai ke sab tyohaar kushi baantne ka
bahaana hote hain.
Bani (smiling): That's a great idea, Tony. Thank you. Phir tum yeh sab
dekho – mai Mr Walia ke liye breakfast banati hun.
She prepared it with particular care today and took up a tray with
morning coffee. She opened the door and hesitated. His room was dark, with the
curtains pulled shut. Bani put down the tray on a small table and pulled the
curtains apart. Jai was still asleep, the covers pulled up over his shoulder.
Bani stood by his bed, looking down at him – he looked softer in sleep – the
jaw unclenched, the frown smoothened. She drank him in greedily, looking on a
face she no longer had permission to stare at.
He must have sensed her gaze because he woke up suddenly, brown eyes
staring directly into hers.
"Bani?"
She said nothing for a long moment, and then, "Mai coffee layi hun. Aap
tayyar ho jaayiye – breakfast ready hai." And went quickly out of the room.
Jai stared after his wife with a thoughtful frown. It was the first time
she had stepped into their… his room in these past three months. It had been
torture to have her in the house, but ask her to leave, he would not, he could
not. The breakdown of their marriage had taken much from him, but it had
equally left Bani ravaged. She was proud – and if she felt able to stay in his
house, under his roof, under his protection, he was honoured. He had once
feared she felt nothing for him but hate, loathing and fear. That, at least,
was not true. Bani would never have stayed in Walia Mansion
in those circumstances, Jai thought, towelling his hair.
She had not asked to be married to him, and she did not want to be.
Nevertheless, it had brought her into a relationship she had not planned for, a
baby she had not wanted. Jai would have swallowed his pride and asked, even
now, if she would settle for marriage with him – but how was he to do that
knowing? Knowing about Pushkar, knowing that Bani had a chance to go back to
what she had before Pia's utter selfishness had forced them together. She did
not hate him, but she did not love him either.
*
Part 3
At Breakfast.
T: Good Morning, Sir!
J: Good morning, Tony.
T: Sir, with your permission, har saal ki tarah Xmas ke kuch decorations
karva raha hun.
J (with a shrug): Tony, go ahead, lekin is baar ghar mein koi nahin hoga
yeh sab enjoy karne ke liye – Anu aur Sahil ko khaas maza aata lekin woh sab
New Year par hi lautenge.
T: Yes sir, lekin ghar pe to celebrations honi chahiye. Aur phir Bani
Madam aur aap to hain. Sir, Walia
Mansion cheerful lagega.
Jai (smiling indulgently, sat down to breakfast): Done. Jo chahe karo.
Bani comes out with the dishes and starts to serve him.
Jai (looking up at her): Bani, tum rehne do – Tony serve karega.
B: Mr Walia, Tony busy hai. Ghar bhar mein ghaas poos tanga raha hai
(smiling at Tony)
J: (questioningly at Tony, who had his hands full of tinsel) Ghaas poos?
T (smiling, very chatty): Yes sir, Mistletoe. Kehte hain ke yeh agar
darwazon par aur saare ghar mein lakta diya jaaye.. toh…
J (smiling wryly): Haan mai jaanta hun – theek hai tum jao.
He started to eat.
Bani was to his right, also eating. She was not yet done when he was
through, but she got up, saying "Coffee laati hun."
She came back with the coffee and placed it in front of him. He gulped
it down quickly, pushed back his chair, and walked to the door.
J (loudly): Tony, Bhaskar se kehna ke gaadi saamne laaye.
He was almost at the door. Bani followed him.
B: Mr Walia…
Jai stopped and turned.
B: Kya aap aaj office se jaldi aa sakte hain? (Jai looked questioningly)
Xmas ke liye Tony aur baaki staff ko dene ke liye gifts laane honge – mera ghar
mein bohut kaam baaki hai – kya aap aate hue kuch le aayenge?
J (rubbing a hand across his eyes): oh damn – uske bare mein bhool hi gaya. Theek hai, I'll
organise that. Aur kuch?
Bani began to shake her head and then looked hesitant.
J: Bani, what is it?
Bani (smiling a little): Kuch nahin, aap bas jaldi mein tayyar hue hain
(She indicated his coat buttons done wrongly) Main theek kardun?
She moved to stand in front of him and slowly began to undo all the
buttons on the coat. Bani was breathing rather rapidly and Jai had stopped
breathing altogether. She started to match them to the correct eyelet, and
began to do them up again. She reached a hand to his collar and folded it down,
smoothing it. A finger accidentally flicked his hair. He looked down at her
intently, trying to read her. They were standing close, their faces inches from
each other.
J: Bani… mai…
"Sir!"
Tony! Jai moved away quickly and Bani blushed. Caught canoodling in the
doorway by the butler. Bani could've killed him!
"Sir," Tony now realised he had
interrupted a 'moment', "I'm sorry but aapka laptop dining room mein reh gaya tha."
J: Thanks Tony – aaj mai jaldi aane ki koshish karunga.
And he strode off to the car.
*
Lunch time. Jai was in his car heading back home. He didn't know why he
was doing this, but the compulsion was strong. There was no one but the
servants in the house today, and he didn't like to think of her alone in the
large house. He would check on her and rush back to his afternoon appointments.
He checked his watch impatiently as they swung into the gates of Walia Mansion.
He strode into the house and yelled for Tony.
T: Good Afternoon, Sir.
Jai: Tony, Bani kahaan hai? Usne lunch kar liya?
T: Sir, maine
breakfast ke baad Bani maam ko nahin dekha.
Jai (scowling): Kya woh bahar gayin hain?
T: Nahi Sir, mere khayal se oopar hi hain.
J (distracted): Achcha?
He bounded up the stairs and walked into Bani's room. It was tidy as
usual but held no sign of her. He crossed over to Rano's room but found it
locked.
Muttering "Kahaan ho sakti hai?" he walked down another corridor. His
footsteps rang in the silent house. Suddenly the silence seemed eerie and the curtains flapped in the gusty
wind. Jai knew a sense of foreboding. Suddenly he knew where Bani was. He
walked on till he came to the nursery… Krishna's
nursery – and flung open the door. It was a silent room – a room that should
have been filled with a child's laughter
now just held ghosts.
There she was sitting on the baby cot, in a simple ochre saree, with her
back to him, lost to the world. Clutching a teddy bear to her stomach and
letting the misery flow. Jai went over and stood next to her. "Bani" She looked
up with a jerk, and hastily wiped her tears, and then rose and walked to the
window. She might cry, but she didn't like to people to see her that way,
particularly her husband. The teddy bear had fallen to the floor, looking sad.
He picked it up and propped it against the corner of the cot and waited. Slowly
he turned to look at her. She was hunched over, her body racked with unbearable
grief. He didn't even realise he had moved, but he was next to her, a hand
protectively around her.
"Bani, please…"
With an cry that was almost animal, she turned and caved in. His arms
went tightly around her, feeling the shudders that racked her, absorbing them
now as he should have three months ago. Tears streaming down his own face, he
bent to hide them in her hair.
"Mr Walia…I'm sorry… itna dukh… mai jaanti hun…I'm sorry."
He raised her face and framed it in his hands, thumbing the tears away.
She looked up at him and nearly didn't recognise him – he was looking down at
her with a tenderness she had never seen in his eyes. It was unbearable: she
closed her eyes. And his lips came down on hers. Soft, barely touching, seeking.
His hands slid to her waist, pulling her into him and her arms curled around
his neck. Nipping at her lips, he took her in, till their pain transmuted into
a flare of passion, seeming to consume them as they stood entwined in that
darkened corner of an abandoned nursery.
Several moments later, he sat on the cot she had sat on earlier,
clutching his head. She came to stand in front of him: "Mr Walia, pichle in
maheeno mein maine
kayi baar koshish ki… ki aapse baat
karun, aapka dukh baantun, shayad kam karun… lekin aapne mujhe mauka hi nahi
diya."
J sat with his head bowed, his palms over his eyes: Bani, kuch zakhm
aise hote hai, ke unpar malham bhi lagaane ke liye haath rakho, toh rooh kaamp
uthti hai.
B looked down at him piteously, and put a tentative hand on his
shoulder: "Mr Walia, mujhse behtar ye baat kaun samajh sakta hai? Krishna se
zyada aapne aur maine
zindagi se kuch nahin maanga. Lekin kismat ko kuch aur hi manzoor tha – filhaal
Krishna hamaare naseeb mein nahin hai."
He raised his eyes then to her slim form standing in front on him, put
out his hand and drew her close. Her saree fluttered gently as his breath
stirred it – he raised his left hand, gently pushed the cloth aside, baring her
navel to his gaze. Her delicate curves were creamy white, just a little rounded
and bearing no evidence of the violence she had suffered. He cupped her waist,
drew her in between his legs… and bent to press his lips to her womb. Bani drew
in a sharp breath, closed her eyes and bit off a moan. One hand clutched his
shoulder for support even as the other cradled his head, holding him to her. It
was a soul-sucking caress, as if all of her being gathered and quivered at the
one point where his lips touched her. A homage to their loss.
He looked up then and met her eyes. She wrapped her arms securely around
him, cradling his head against her as she gently rocked him. Jai held her
tighter still, giving and taking strength – two people who were briefly
parents.
*
Part 4
It was a late lunch that Xmas eve and a protracted one. The kitchen
radio crooned Jiya dhadak dhadak. Jai
and Bani ate very little but the meal was conducted in near-perfect silence.
Tony, rather mystified and intrigued, served them as discreetly as possible.
They had not fought – that he could tell… for the Boss kept shooting
smouldering looks at his wife and she
stared at him as if she would rather have him for lunch, a little smile playing
on her lips.
For three months, each had mooned around the house barely talking to the
other, and just one day had brought this about! Tony looked up at the mistletoe
with new-found respect.
It didn't last very long, though. Bani's phone rang.
B: Hello? Haan bolo Pushkar!
Tony turned apprehensively to glance at his boss. His fist had clenched
over the napkin, his eyes had narrowed and his teeth were set. Poor Bani maam!
Tony hurried into the kitchen.
The storm broke out behind him. Jai pushed back his chair violently,
knocking it over, flung his napkin into the middle of the table and thundered
upstairs. Bani looked at him in shock and alarm.
Quickly she said into the phone, "Pushkar mai tumse baad mein baat karti
hun," and hung up.
Bani followed Jai upstairs. He was in his room, standing by the window,
one arm thrown across, clenching the curtain. He was in a red haze and she
couldn't imagine why.
B: Mr Walia…
He turned around, snarling: Yes, Mrs Walia! Kahiye? Or is that Ms Dixit
now – sorry mai abhi clear nahi hun – thoda confusion hai. Could you clear that
up for me? What is happening?
B: Mai samjhi nahi, aap kya kehna chahte …
J (sarcastic): Nai? Aapka yaar abhi bhi aapko phone karte rehta hai,
lekin aap phir bhi apne ex-husband ke ghar pe kya rahin hai? Oh (pretending to
be enlightened) we haven't signed the papers! But how does that make a
difference, Mrs Walia? Surely aapke boyfriend to bechaini hoti hogi ke kab aap
mukt ho jaaye aur aap donon hamesha hamesha le liye ek ho jaaye? What's
stopping you?
Bani (stunned): yaar? Boyfriend?
J (sneering): Oh, are we pretending? Pushkar Shukla, Bani! Ring a bell?
Yaad aaya? Woh shaks jisse tum pehle se pyar karti thi – aur jisse tum shaadi
karti… agar Pia tum donon ke beech na aati to (stabbing a finger). Woh Pushkar
Shukla, jo abhi bhi tumhara intezaar kar raha hai, jise loyalty award milni
chahiye.
Bani (shocked, horrified): Ye aapse kisne kaha?
J: Did you think I didn't know? Bani, I have known since before I went
to Dubai. Aur
yeh tumhara raaz itna bhi chupa nahin hai. Mujhe Jigyasa ne bataya aur Pia ne
bhi confirm kiya.
(He turned away, straightened up and continued in a more reasonable
tone)
Agar tum mere feelings ka khayal karke hichkicha rahi ho toh koi
zaroorat nahin hai. Ye sadma mere bardasht ke baahar nahin hai. Tum kabhi bhi
jaa sakti ho.
Bani (in a strangled voice): Jigyasa ne aapse kaha aur aapne yakeen kar liya?
Jai turned towards her quickly, with narrowed eyes: Kya matlab?
Bani was agitated now, and furious: Aur Pia ne kaha aur aapne maan liya?
Mr Walia, Pia jhoot to nahi kehti par kya aap itna nahin samajhte ke Pia ke
sach mein aur asli sach mein farq ho sakta hai? Aapne kabhi mujhse poocha
munasib nahi samjha – ke kya mai Pushkar se pyar karti hun?
Jai (shouting): What the hell was I supposed to do? Ankhon mein ankhen
daalke jhoot kehne waalon se mai kya poochoon? Kyon poochoon mai?
Bani (continuing): Aapne kya samjha hai mujhe, Mr Walia – ke pyar kisise
karun, shaadi nibhaun kisi aur ke saath? Ki apne zaroorat ke hisaab se kabhi ek
ke saath to kabhi doosre ke saath rahun? Shayad aap confuse ho rahen hai – mera
naam Bani hai, Pia nahin.
Jai gritted his teeth and raised an imperative finger: Bani, I'm warning
you – don't go there. Mai tumse pehle bhi keh chuka hun, ke Pia aur mere beech
KUCH NAHI hua tha. I wouldn't touch her with a barge pole and you KNOW that.
Pia ne jhoot kaha tha tumse!
(laughing bitterly, he spat out the words) Main paagal zaroor hun lekin
ITNA bhi bewakoof nahin jo ek DIXIT ko dubara apni zindagi mein aane dun. Mujhe
barbaad karne ke liye tumhare parivaar ka har member apni apni koshish kar
chuka hai.
Bani turned away in disgust: "Agar aap itne clear hain to ham kya
discuss kar rahen hain? Aapke paas to har sawaal ka jawab hai."
Jai, now pissed, came around to stand in front of her and taking hold of
her shoulders: "Theek hai – mai tumse ab pooch leta hun. Bani – do you love
Pushkar? (slowly, enunciating every word) Kya tum Pushkar se pyar karti ho?
(shaking her) Tell me, dammit!
Bani (wrenching herself away from his hold, now crying): NAHIN! Nahin
karti mai pyar Pushkar se. Bas?
The silence was deathly.
He was stunned. Had she said No? She had. What did that mean? Had he
been right after all? Jai had never been able to believe that he didn't have
Bani's love – of her he had been surer than he had ever been of anything. But
Jigyasa had said otherwise, and so had Pia; he had been forced to admit
everything pointed to Pushkar.
Hope died hard but even he could see how Pushkar dogged Bani's every
step. She never stepped out without calling him, or telling him where she was.
If Bani needed to be found, the man you had to ask was Pushkar Shukla, not Jai
Walia. She told him her secrets, turned to him for every help. It had broken
his heart to convince himself that it all added up. Had that been a mistake?
Hope swelled again, bubbling up to the surface.
J (turning): Bani…
But she was gone.
*
Part 5
Jai rushed down the stairs, shouting for Bani. Tony emerged instead.
T: Sir, Bani madam chali gayin hai. Unhone apna purse liya aur chali
gayin.
J (running a hand through his hair): Gaadi lekar gayin hain?
T (apologetically): No sir, unhone taxi liya.
Jai was ticked off now. "Bloody taxis! now I'll have to just buy the
entire fr-king fleet in Mumbai."
Jai tried Bani's cell first. Switched off. "Damn, damn!" he muttered.
Why the hell did he have to say so much? He had an unruly, undisciplined tongue
and the cutting things he said always came back to haunt him. And with Bani,
his emotions ran so high he ended up saying the worst possible things. Why the
hell did I have to make that Dixit crack? he thought savagely.
Reluctantly, but knowing he had no choice, he called Pushkar to ask if
he knew where Bani was. Pushkar was surprised to hear from Jai, but Bani had
not called him since earlier in the day. Where could she have gone?
Three hours later, Jai was cruising the streets, with a lookout for a
slender figure in a deep yellow saree. It was getting dark, and rapidly chilly.
A cold wave had held sway all this week. His phone rang. Hallelujah… his wife!
B (in a small voice): Hello?
J: (pulling over to one side of the road) Bani where the HELL are you?
Phone kyun nahin utha rahi tum? Pata hai kab se dhoondh raha hun tumhe?
Bani (with a tremor in her voice): Mai..
kya aap mujhe lene aa sakte hain?
J (softening at once): Haan, of course. Kahan ho tum?
B: Mai Grant Road
pe hun… agar aap aa rahen hain to mai aapko bus stop pe milungi.
J: Right. Mai abhi aa raha hun. Bani, I'll be there in ten.
Seven minutes later, Jai was pulling up at the Grant Road bus stop. He got out and felt
the chill nip at him. This was a fairly deserted place this time of evening. A
couple of roughnecks lounged on the benches – why had Bani come here? He
frowned, looking around for her. She was standing by a pole a yard away, her
pallu wrapped around her, protectively clutching a big cavernous jute bag.
"Bani.."
She jumped a little, and then managed a small smile. One of the chaps on
the bench let out a whistle. One look from Jai took care of that, but Bani had obviously got a scare.
J: Bani, let's get out of here. Chalo…
He shut the car door after her, moved into the driver's seat and glided
out of there. She was shivering. Talk could wait, he decided, turning the AC
vents in her direction, and turning up the heat. He eased out of his jacket and
offered it to her. She took it wordlessly, wrapping it around her, and snuggled
in with a sniff.
They walked into Walia
Mansion together. Jai
turned to Bani and raised a commanding finger, "Now I want you to listen to me
– please upar jaao, have a hot shower – varna
tumhe sardi ho jaayegi."
Bani nodded and went upstairs, leaving her husband to stare after her in
bemusement. If only he had this docility from Bani on the really important
things! He shook his head with a smile.
*
Part 6
Jai showered and picked out a dark blue kurta and a white chudidaar.
They needed to talk, he thought grimly as he combed his hair. He had let things
slide, too afraid to ask questions for which he didn't like the answers, but
they were going to talk today.
Downstairs, he got Tony to organise a few things – foremost a fire. Walia Mansion
had a lovely fireplace that wasn't too much used; they were in Bombay, after all, but tonight both the
weather and his mood dictated it.
It was a lovely room, in fact the very room that Tony had decided to
place the Christmas Tree in. The hearth was an old ornate one, and the fireside
was adorned with a plush, thick cream carpet that was a luxury to sink into.
Low three sided seating faced the fire – broad, comfy settees with soft
off-white throws. Orange, yellow and lime pillows in varying sizes carelessly
lined the settees and caught the firelight beautifully. With the flames
crackling, the room looked cozy tonight. Tony arranged everything, pulled the
curtains together, and withdrew.
The door opened. Jai looked up from his contemplation of the fire. Bani
framed in the doorway, in a flowy sleeveless salwar kameez in hues of blue and
green. Her hair was damp from her shower and her face scrubbed clean – kohl and
gloss was all she had used. He scanned her so slowly from the feet up, she was
actually nervous when his eyes finally rested on her face. Male admiration,
there was… but something else as well… she mused… he looked determined.
He moved away from the mantelpiece to the drinks by the side of the
room. She came into the room and shut the door, her eyes following him in
trepidation. The ice clinked and he turned around with a glass in hand.
J: Aao baitho. I've fixed you a
gin and tonic – that'll take care of the chills.
B: (relieved, came forward and took it) Oh, mere liye?
J (amused): Tumhe kya laga – mai piyakkad ho raha hun?
Bani (with a laugh, settling on the couch): Nahin, lekin kabhi kabhi aap
zyada peete hain.
J: Drink up – maybe I'll join you later just to be companionable.
He went to the fire to stoke it and place another log. She set down her
glass on the side table with a thud. Jai turned around.
J: Bani, have you downed that drink in one go? Sweetheart, that was gin,
not lassi!
He called her sweetheart! He hadn't in months! Her heart thudded so
violently she was afraid he would hear it.
Bani: Hmm – just felt like… can I have another one?
J (amused): if you insist.
He made her another drink, handed it to her and came back to the settee
and settled down, facing her, one arm along the back.
J: Bani, aaj ghar chodkar kahan gayi thi tum?
She stiffened, looked away and took a sip.
J: Bani, we need to talk. Maina aaj bohut kuch keh diya – I'm sorry.
Shayad yeh hame pehle hi kar lena chahiye tha, but...
Bani put down the glass and turned to him with painful eyes.
B: Mr Walia, mai Pushkar se pyar nahin karti hun – he's a friend, a very
good friend.
J (softly): "Bani, I understand that now. Mujhe Jigyasa aur Pia par
yakeen karne se pehle tumse poochna chahiye tha.
Lekin ab sawaal yeh hai ke tum pyar kisse karti ho?"
He was looking at her unwaveringly. She looked into his eyes with some
distress.
B: Kya aapko ye sawaal poochna padega? Aap nahin jaante, mere man mein
kya hai?
J: Bani! (exasperated, pushing his hands through his hair) Haan, mujhe
poochna padega… kyunki ye rishta itna ulajh chuka hai ke mai jaan'na chahta hun
– saaf saaf jaan'na chahta hun ke tumhare man mein kya hai? Hamne divorce ke
liye apply kiya hai – tum aage kya chahti ho?
B (standing up and staring into the fire): Aur jo main chahti hun, mujhe
milega?
Jai looked at her slender back as she walked away from him. He stood up,
looked at her for a minute and said decisively: "Haan tumhe jo kuch bhi
chahiye, milega."
Bani turned to him, looking oddly defenceless: "Aap, aapke saath zindagi
aur Krishna."
He had frozen.
Bani (very softly): Kya mujhe yeh mil sakta hai?
He moved slowly to stand in front of her, with a curious glint in his
eyes. "Haan, aapko ye mil sakta hai."
The next moment they were in each other's arms, locked as if they would
never let go. He moved back a fraction and tipped up her face and met with a
smile so luminous, it took his breath away. Her arms curved around his neck,
and holding his head in place, she kissed him. Sheer delight held him immobile
for second, but he wrested the initiative from her, plunging deeply. Heated
murmurings and endearments punctuated the next ten minutes, but it was a most
satisfactory conversation…
B: Mujhe laga, aap ab mujhse pyar nahi karte. Ki yeh shaadi aapke liye
ek samjhauta hai.
They were settled on the plush carpet, resting their backs against the
sofas. Bani's head rested on Jai's shoulder, her hand occupied in desultory
strokes. Occasionally her fingers slipped into the opening of his kurta,
curling the thick mat of hair on his chest, revelling in being able to touch
him at last.
J: Nahin, Bani… this has always been my dream. This is what I've wanted
– all I've ever wanted.
She pressed a small kiss into his neck and his arm tightened on her
midriff. He said, hoarsely, "And we came so close to losing it all Bani! Thank
God we had the house to ourselves today – I couldn't have taken many more
months like this."
He bent to nuzzle her neck, and murmured, "Waise aaj tum gayin kahan?
What on earth were you doing on Grant
Road?"
Bani looked up with a smile, "Oh, mere paas aapke liye gift hai."
He raised an eyebrow. "More gifts? Yeh to Diwali bhi aa gayi hai
Christmas ke saath."
She got up and went to her bag and fished out a huge ribbon wrapped gift and came to him, holding it out in front
of her. He took it quizzically and said: "May I?"
"Of course," she smiled, a little imp of mischief in her eyes.
Settling back on the carpet, he ripped open the wrappings, uncovered the
box and revealed a copy of the book Maximum City
– he loved Mumbai so much, he'd been wanted to get his hands on that one. "Oh
wow! Bani, thank you!" He lifted it out to find another gift wrapped box below
it, and looked up at her. "Another one? A
red herring gift, huh?"
She nodded. He opened the second box, to find a white Tarun Tahiliani
kurta. He looked up at his wife questioningly. She laughed back at him: "Maine
Tony ke liye doosra shirt le liya hai. Yeh sirf aapke liye hai." He flung his
head back with a groan and covered his eyes, "Oh god, mujhe yaad mat dilao
please – I'm so sorry." It had been so long ago – when she'd picked out a shirt
for him in Goa and he'd been perverse enough
to give that away to Tony.
But Bani was laughing: "Tab se mai chahti thi ke aapko apni pasand ki
cheez pehnaake rahun."
There was more. "Aur kitne hai?" he asked lifting out the third box.
"Bas do," she answered, "lekin dono hi mai aapko de rahi hun, par hai actually
mere liye."
"Okaaay," he said, opening it. A pair of lovely bangles winked up at
him. Jai drew in his breath and looked up at Bani: "Tumhare kangan!" These had
his first gift to her, and she had actually given them away in a fit of pique
and anger. No, theirs had NOT been a smooth ride.
J: "Bani, yeh tumhare paas waapas kaise aaye?"
B: Seema Bhabhi Grant Road
pe rehti hai. Actually maine
unse agle din hi keh diya tha ki jab woh design copy karwalen, toh mai kangan
waapas le lungi. Phir itna kuch ho gaya
ke kabhi jaake le nahi paayi.
Jai lifted them out gently. "Pehna dun?"
Bani held out her hands and Jai eased them on. She stared at his bent
head. It felt so good to have his hands on her, taking such infinite care not
to pinch her tender skin, smoothing the bangles on.
"Last one?" he asked. "Haan, bilkul," she said and waited for his
reaction to the last box. She got it: he was looking at her with eyes blazing
in their intensity. "Bani," he said quietly. In the small jewellery case
nestled her mangalsootra. "Ise bhi pehna dijiye, please," she said huskily.
He lifted it tenderly out of the box, and raised it. She sat closer,
lifting her hair out of the way and he placed it around her neck, fastening it,
his breath stirring her hair. He leaned back and arranged it to his
satisfaction.
His eyes burned like coal as his hands left her. "Kya hai?" she asked.
He said, "Bani, chalo phir se shaadi karte hain. This time, we go into
it with our eyes open. We mean every single thing we say, every oath we take.
We'll marry for love."
She teared up but her smile was 100-carat brilliant, "But I'm warning
you: dobara bandh gaye, to aapko apni zindagi se jaane nahin doongi." And she
went into his arms…
Sometime in the middle of the night, Jai pulled the razaari to cover his
sleeping wife. She clung to his right hand in sleep… an old habit, he thought
with the hint of a smile. One way or the other, it had been on helluva day. And
there was the whole of Christmas left, before the rest of the family came back.
Jai rested against the pillow in satisfaction.
***
On the night of 25 December the Elite Black Cat team brought down BC
Special Agent Mistletoe and pulled down its equipment. Withdrawal was smooth
and debriefing was conducted soon after. Operation JB Milan succeeded just as
we had hoped. The effects of the intervention, we are happy to report, proved
lasting.
Walia Mansion will soon have the patter of tiny
feet in its long hallways and that, as far as we are concerned, is as good as it gets.
Finis
Disclaimer: I've taken the liberty of casting a few
KSians in this story – all in the interest of a joke. I'm hoping no one minds:
I mean no offence at all.
Edited by sangitadas - 17 years ago
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