SS: THE SICILIAN...PART 23 pg 49 UPD 29/06 - Page 9

Aprajeet was falling for bani ? and pia ruined it,, karan seems to have some sense even though his morals are low,, he just signed off all rights he had on bani ,, jai is disturbed, hmmmmm I wonder why,, maybe he should get rid of his gf that would help 😆

SICILIAN 7

Bani looked again round the spacious apartment again. She could never have imagined that all of this would be possible in her life after the last few months of hell. She had been more than blown away when Tarun had brought her here. She still felt like she had walked into paradise. The apartment was beautiful. A three bedroom apartment. She had had a royal row with Tarun in the hospital about what he had gone and done. It felt like he was spending his entire savings on her and she felt like she didn't deserve it at all…it really was too much.

"Oh my God Tarun!" she had exclaimed when she pushed the two babies into the apartment, "It's beautiful!"

It was tastefully done in cream and red, the lighting was perfect. It had a waterfall, aquarium, dining area, and three bedrooms, one of them done up as a nursery with two of everything in them.

"I can't accept this," she began, after running round the house in childlike glee, her face flushed from the excitement, "It's too much."

"Too late, that ship has sailed," he said, "Your old house is on the market again and I really don't see you going to all this trouble to move back there."

"But Tarun, this must have really put a dent in your account," she wailed in frustration.

He smiled, "Oh I think my account can take it," he said with a funny look.

"Tarun…I'm going to pay you back," she insisted.

"I'd like to see you try," he said, forcing her to sit down, "Look, I know you're fiercely independent, especially now that you have kids to take care of, but I want you to know that it's okay to be taken care of sometimes."

She teared up at that, "But this is too much!"

He looked around with an appreciative eye, "Even if, and I do say so myself."

"What?" she was looking at him funny.

"No…it's just…" he stuttered.

He was saved by Atharva's sudden outburst and insistent wails. She quickly abandoned the conversation and went to pick him up.

"Oh my pet, what's the matter?" she asked as she bounced him on her shoulder, "Is my baby hungry?...are you?...huh?"

He however quieted down as she carried him, apparently only needing the comfort of his mother close by. Tarun however breathed a sigh of relief, cursing Jai in his mind for putting him in this position. But well, it was better than having that idiot circling her. She was better off without having him casting his vile shadow on her or the boys.

He loved what Jai had had done to the place. He had incorporated some of her old stuff in the decorating but most of it was new. It so looked like a home right now. He just hoped Bani didn't get too curious about anything cos it was hard to lie to her. A few minutes later, Atharva was asleep.

"Hey, I want to be the first to eat food from your hands in your new apartment. So, how about it?"

She broke out in a big smile and taking his hand, pulled him to the kitchen, "Of course. What do you want to eat?"

"Why don't we start with the traditional kheer?" he asked.

"Coming right up!" she beamed and immediately began throwing open cupboards looking for what she needed, "You really went all out with this place!"

"I had good reason," he said with a muted smile. She stopped and turned to face him he instinctively held his breath.

"Tarun," she began, "Did you really do all this? Alone?"

He struggled between telling her the truth and lying to her further and she clearly saw it on his face.

"Please Tarun, I need to know," she said it so quietly.

He sighed, "No…no, I didn't do all this alone."

She exhaled, obviously relieved, but still unsure if she wanted to know who the other person was, and said cautiously, "So….who helped you out?"

"Bani, first of all, you have to promise you will be understanding," he said slowly.

She frowned, "What are you talking about?"

"Promise me," he repeated.

"I can't promise you anything until I know why I have to be calm," she said, beginning to fear the worst.

"Well after the talking to you gave your friends from the jungle…"

"Dammit Tarun!" she shouted, and then quickly reduced her voice, not wanting to wake Atharva who seemed to cry a lot these days, "You better not have been accepting help from Aparajeet or else…."

"What?!" Tarun was appalled, "What the hell would make you think I would take even oxygen from a devil like that?"

She relaxed visibly, pressing her hand to her forehead to try and calm her throbbing head, "Then who is it Tarun? Who could be so bad that you need me to calm down?"

He looked her straight in the eye and said without blinking, "Jai Walia."

She was stunned into silence. At first she thought she hadn't heard right, then when he didn't make a move to say he was joking, her hands fell to her side limply. Her head was swimming and she couldn't for the life of her imagine why he would do such a thing!

"Wh…why…did he…" she began, taking a few steps towards the table so she could rest her palm on it to steady herself, "Jai Walia?"

"I know it seems crazy but…."

"The hospital?" she asked, cutting him off.

He shrugged, "Him too."

She exhaled so deeply he thought she was going to pass out and rushed to her side, "Bani, maybe you should sit…"

"No!" she snapped, holding her hand up so he backed away, then turned a pained expression on him, "I know, he has been wonderful to me and helped me out but….this is going way beyond…"

"Bani look," Tarun cut her off, "I more than anyone should understand why you wouldn't want to accept help from anyone right now, least of all a man. But do you think I would have allowed him do all this if I didn't think it was okay?"

"But look at this place!" she made a sweeping gesture, "This place is the kind of place you rent for your girlfriend….I don't know, mistress maybe, not me?!"

"Don't be silly!" Tarun snapped, and that stopped her hysterics, "The man simply wanted to help and I let him. He was there remember? You were fine with all this until you know who it was from. One bad apple doesn't mean the rest of us are evil Bani."

Rather than reply, she crossed her hands in defiance, and stared out the window at the endless sky.

"Bani," Tarun said, more gently now, "Look, I know things have been crazy, but for once someone is doing something for you without strings and I know it's a tough pill to swallow, taking things from someone…"

"Who I didn't know I was taking things from," she added stubbornly.

He chuckled, "That too, but listen my dear, he's a good guy. One of the few good men and I can vouch for him. And best of all, he has a girlfriend so don't go getting funny ideas."

She punched his arm and he laughed at her stubborn expression that was slowly giving way to the smallest of smiles.

"I don't like this Tarun," she said, her expression more worried now.

"I know."

"He's not supposed to know I know right?" she asked.

"Mhmm."

"Well too bad how sad," she said getting to her feet, "Unfortunately for you, he's going to need to know that I know."

"Oh no," Tarun said shaking his head, "The man will kill me!"

"I thought he was a good guy," she said sweetly.

"What?...Don't throw my word back in my face," he said, "This was all supposed to be a secret."

"Well, cat's out of the bag and you are not getting any kheer," she said, going back to rummaging through the cupboards.

"What?"

"Hey, I was going to do that when I thought you were behind all of this," she said with a smirk, "Now he who has bestowed the favor shall get first taste of everything."

"Hey no fair," he protested, "I'm the one who had to talk you into accepting his offer in the first place."

"Mhmm, and you did a marvelous job," she beamed, "He needs to know that."

"See? It's things like this that make me want to remain single. I can never figure you out. Women!"

She laughed, "I know, and if you could, there would be a revolt and you would end up dead."

"Humph!" he snorted and simultaneously, a cry broke out, causing them both to groan.

"I miss the hospital already," she sighed going into the living room again.

Jai was having quite the day. First of all, his PA dropped in to say he had to leave as his attention was urgently needed for some family problem that had escalated out of hand, then his secretary misplaced the file in which the new software they were acquiring was contained and in a few minutes he was about to have a conference call with some buyers in Dubai where Pushkar had flown out to for the purchase of a Hotel Spa. He rubbed his temple in frustration, not particularly being one to show much emotion in public.

There was a short rap on his door and in breezed his girlfriend, "Hi darling!"

"Now you are a pleasant surprise," he smiled, rising to give her a welcome kiss, "How's it going?"

"Rotten," she made a face and he laughed, "Looks like those people were just waiting for me to get back so they could just pile all the work on me."

"You poor thing," he led her to the door off to the left side of the office which opened out to an informal sitting room he reserved for close friends with whom he needed privacy, "Drink?"

"Please," she said with an exaggerated sigh, "And whatever it is, make it a double."

He smiled at that. She was never one to be frugal at all. Everything had to be super size. "Any plans for lunch?" he asked.

"Not for me, I just dropped by to see how you were doing," she smiled, taking the drink from his hand she took a large swig, "So, what've you been up to?"

His hands stilled slightly on the drink he was about to raise to his lips and then he offered her an amused smile, "Any particular reason you ask?"

"No," she feigned innocence, shaking her head, "I just thought you might have had more…fun while I was away?"

Her emphasis on the word fun had him smiling fully, "Okay, what did you hear?"

"Delivering babies in an elevator?!" she exclaimed, more excited than anything else, "What was that about?"

He laughed at her delighted expression, "It's not as grand as it sounds, trust me."

"Well the Press don't seem to think so," she continued, coming to plop down beside him, "Come on now tell me. I want to know every little thing that happened."

Draping his hand around her shoulder as she leaned into him, he recounted the story to her, and really didn't notice how excited he became when he talked about the boys. He downplayed a lot of things and omitted some, as he felt they were too precious to divulge to anyone else.

Roshni was looking at him funny now, "Wow."

"What?" he frowned slightly.

"You should see the look on your face," she said in wonder, "'You look like a proud…father…almost."

"What nonsense," he brushed it off with the practiced ease of an accomplished actor, "I experienced the miracle of child birth up close and that is a most scary thing."

"I agree," Roshni nodded, still casting him a furtive glance, "So how is she?"

"Who?" he asked, taking a sip from his glass to buy time to compose himself.

"The woman who gave birth?" Roshni asked, again giving him a funny look.

"Last I heard she had been released from the hospital so, she could be anywhere," he said dismissively.

"Mhmm," she nodded distractedly, "Anything else happen?"

"No, not really," he said, "Except for one thing, but it's not important."

"Tell me," she insisted.

He looked at her for a few seconds as if deciding whether or not it was worth telling her, "Someone has been in my office."

She flinched, "Wh…what?"

"It's nothing," he assured her quickly, "It's just…things are always moved around when I get in sometimes. It's not noticeable to the ordinary person but it is to me."

"Well any idea who it is?" she asked, reaching out to take her drink from the table.

"No," he shook his head, taking another sip.

"Well have you had the place swept for bugs and stuff?" she asked, "This could be someone trying to spy on you."

He smiled at her now, "Good thinking, and yes, I have had the place swept and there are no bugs or cameras."

"Good," she said in obvious relief, "So what now?"

"We'll just have to wait and see. I don't think it's anything to bother your pretty little head about."

"So long as you're okay," she said in a small voice.

"I'll be fine," he pinched her cheek and she giggled happily, then glanced at her wrist watch, "Oh shoot!"

"What?"

"I have to get back to work. Dad is going to kill me!"

"Relax, Daddy isn't going to kill Daddy's little girl," he kissed her forehead, "But if you must go…"

"I must."

"Then off you go," he said, hugging her before she left.

He had just settled himself in to resume work again when his buzzer went off, "What is it Mansha?"

"There's a Doctor Tarun here to see you sir."

In the background he could hear cooing sounds and frowned, thinking why Tarun would want to see him.

"Send him in."

Seconds later, Tarun knocked and pushing open the door entered the office, "Hello Jai."

"Tarun," Jai acknowledged, taking the man's hand, "Is something the matter?"

"You might want to see for yourself," Tarun said with an apologetic look s he turned and walked back to the door, pulling it open.

To Jai's astonishment, the first things he laid eyes on were the two little boys in the twin carrier, before his eyes rose to meet the mellow green eyes of the woman who now haunted his dreams.

"I'm sorry to drop in on you like this Mr. Walia but I find it is absolutely necessary that I do," she said in a straight no nonsense voice.

"Please, do come in," he said, slanting Tarun a look.

Tarun shrugged, "Told you three bedroom apartment would be a tough sell."

Bani bit her lip to keep from smiling at Tarun's obvious discomfort under Jai's scrutiny. This was a side to the calm and collected Doctor she had not seen ever.

He came towards the children and kneeled down to get a closer look at them. They both immediately stopped moving and looked at the huge apparition before them.

"Do they have names yet?" he asked to no one in particular.

Bani stepped forward, "Of course. The one that looks like he's about to cry is Atharva. First one out."

Jai reached out and ran the tip of his finger down the little face of the boy. Atharva flinched at first, and then settled under the feel on his face.

"And him?"

"That's our trouble maker," Bani said with a smile, "Krishna."

Jai threw her a look over his shoulder and said with a grin, "You didn't go and name him after my mother now did you?"

"What? No!" she said in shocked surprise.

"Relax, I was only kidding," he said with a wave of his hand as he turned back to the boy, "So you are the trouble maker."

Krishna seemed to know him and began to make excited noises, his tiny hands and feet moving simultaneously and Jai just smiled at him. Atharva hiccupped and began to cry.

"Oh dear," Bani whispered as she knelt beside Jai to unstrap the boy and carry him to quiet him down, giving Jai an apologetic look, "I'm sorry, he likes being carried."

Jai smiled, "No doubt a mummy's boy."

Bani smiled in return and then almost immediately, it faded as though she remembered where she was and why he was here.

"Mr.Walia, I suppose you know why I'm here," she began.

"I suppose," he said, all the while his gaze fixed on Krishna who stared back at him.

"Maybe I should leave you two to talk," Tarun said, and was out the door before Bani could say a word.

When they were alone, Bani said quickly, "You mustn't blame him for telling me. Sooner or later I would have found out anyway."

He looked at her directly, "I believe you."

"I know in some alternate sort of way you feel responsible for what happened, and I get it. But I have to tell you, you have one hell of a way of apologizing for it."

He smiled now.

"Normally I would come here and throw it all back in your face…well not 'throw it throw' it in your face'," she corrected herself, "But I hate to owe anyone anything, no matter how small."

"I'm listening," Jai said, his voice low and steady.

"Truth Mr. Walia, is I need help," she said bluntly, "I need help, and to throw what you have just done for me in your face would be downright stupid of me. So I'll accept it. Thank you very much for everything."

He didn't betray any emotion.

"But with a condition," she said firmly.

"Oh?" was all he said, as if he had been expecting it.

"I will pay you back for everything the moment I can afford it."

He turned back to Krishna who was very much staring at him, "Mhmm, but there in lies the problem Bani."

She gasped. He'd said her name…with a lot of familiarity too!

"What I did, was a gift to Krishna here. And last I heard, people don't pay for gifts they are given," the last part was spoken with him given her an intense gaze.

"B…but…" she was cut off by Atharva beginning to hiccup as if sensing her distress and she patted him on the back gently, "Hush darling."

"Tell you what," he went to lean against his table, folding his arms, "How about we let the young man to whom I have gifted such an elaborate gift decide whether or not you will pay me back."

"What?" she was taken aback as she definitely wasn't expecting that, "He's a baby!"

"Who says they can't understand?" Jai said with a quick smile, "We both know different don't we?"

At the realization of what he was saying, she blushed furiously. He just had to go there!

"What say you Krishna?" he asked the boy from where he stood.

The boy just stared at both of them and then to Bani's utter surprise, became hyper, sucking and cooing at the same time but looking at no one in particular.

"There you have it," Jai said.

"There's no way to interpret that," Bani argued.

"Then it's interpreted in my favour."

"But…"

"I understand your stance Bani, but there is really no need," he said firmly, holding her gaze.

She faltered, "I just can't…it's not so easy Mr. Walia."

"I know," he nodded, "It would make me really happy if this was the last we heard spoke of this."

As if one cue, Krishna's face contorted and taking a deep breath, let out a wail, causing the both of them to turn.

"Oh…" Bani was confused, as Atharva sure would not let her put him down.

Jai wordlessly turned to the boy and after unstrapping him, gently lifted him into his arms, causing the boy to go quiet in shock at being lifted so high, then resumed his insistent crying.

"There now," Jai said soothingly, "Mommy is right here… but she is busy with your older brother."

Krishna continued to wail until Jai put him up on his shoulder and began to pat his back, mirroring what Bani was doing to Atharva. Krishna after what seemed like an eternity fell silent and seemed to be enjoying the vibrations that were coming from the body of the person who carried him.

"So that's how it works?" Jai said, smiling at Bani.

"I guess," she said, a bit taken aback at how tiny her baby looked against this giant of a man, "Babies like human contact…helps them feel they're not alone."

"Looks like that one's asleep," he nodded to Atharva, when quite a few minutes had passed with them carrying the babies.

She slowly returned him to the stroller, "Mr. Walia…I cannot thank you enough for what you've done…"

"Hey, one thanks is enough," he assured her.

Tarun knocked, "Anyone need medical attention yet?"

"No, no one's dying," Bani said.

"For a second there I thought I was in big trouble," Jai said.

"Oh you were," Tarun assured him.

"Glad to see that's over," Jai said, and just then his buzzer went off and he handed Krishna to Bani, "Excuse me."

"So how did it go?"

Tarun whispered.

"He refuses me paying him back," Bani whispered, "But I will."

"Like hell," Tarun said.

"Watch me."

"I'm sorry about that," Jai said.

"It's no bother," Tarun said, "We'll be taking our leave now."

"So soon?"

"Oh!" Bani exclaimed, rushing to the table where Tarun had dropped a tiffin.

She opened it and thr office immediately filled with a delicious aroma. She produced the kheer that she had made and returned to where Jai stood, a curious look on his face.

"I was going to give this Tarun first but, you're the one who gave the…gift," she said, borrowing his own term, "I thought you should be first to eat from our kitchen."

So saying, she raises a spoon full of kheer to his lips. Jai has an amused smile, but does take the kheer. For some inexplicable reason, Bani's neck goes red and silently, Tarun watches this exchange with a thoughtful look on his face.

"Thank you, that was delicious," he said with a genuine smile.

Bani nodded, consciously tucking her hair behind her hair, unable to look up. Tarun stepped up to dispel the sudden thickness in the air.

"I told her to let me have a bit for being instrumental but what does she do? Brush me aside," he said.

"Ok baba, here," she gave him a spoonful, "Khush?"

He shrugged, "He still gets to eat the first meal."

"Whatever, now let's go. The man has business to attend to," Bani said, going to replace the kheer while Jai watched in silence. She threw over her shoulder, "I hope you don't mind a home cooked meal this late in the afternoon."

"Not at all," he said pleasantly, "Matter of fact I think I shall relish every bite."

"Oh you shall," Tarun assured him, "How do you think I manage to keep the weight on?"

Bani shoved him lightly and turned to Jai, "I'll take my leave now Mr. Walia."

He was standing right in front of her now, "It was a pleasure to see you again Bani."

Suddenly conscious of herself, she could only nod as she suddenly felt tongue tied.

He bent at the waist to talk to Krishna, "You take care of your Mum now okay?"

Krishna just stared at him soundlessly, but stretched and yawned, causing them to laugh.

"Isn't that a big one?" Tarun teased the oblivious boy.

"Don't be a stranger now," Jai said as they left.

Bani nodded again and they finally left. As she walked along the corridor, she had her head bowed, confusion bouncing around in her head. They got to the elevator and she paused, her breathing suddenly picking up.

"Not this song and dance again," Tarun groaned.

She just glared at him. He had had to beg her, almost kneel down to assure her that nothing would go wrong with this elevator and it didn't make sense to log around a baby stroller while she carried two babies up forty flights of stairs. It finally came down to reverse psychology where he told her they might as well go home cos he was not about to waste the whole day waiting for Jai to come down cos she was afraid to go up. The thought of not taking care of business right away spurred her on and she had gotten in, the whole time gripping his arm and holding on to the stroller.

"And what was that about?" he asked, eyeing her still flushed face.

"What was what about?"

"I hope you don't mind home cooked meals on a late afternoon…I hope you like to see me blush cos…ouch!" he jumped as she drove her tiny fist into his arm with as much force as she could muster.

"The man unsettles me," she said tightly, as she pushed the boys into the elevator, "Can't peg him directly."

"They don't call him business tycoon for nothing," Tarun said, joining her as they started their descent, "So, how do you propose to pay him back?"

"I'll think of something," she said, a tone of promise in her voice and a distinct look of determination.

"He knows something is up so we are going to be very careful from now on," the man said into the receiver.

"What's the next step?"

"We cool it for a while. He might not know now, but the man sure isn't stupid."

"I'll keep an eye out."

"You do that."

The line disconnected and the man in the shadows leaned forward. He matted his fingers and gritted his teeth as he thought of all the hard work and planning that had gone into being able to get past security at Walia Group. It had been like swimming against a rushing river but he had found a little weak link in security, and now that he was about to get what he was looking for, he would not mess it up by being brash. He was a patient man, and good things came to those who waited.

END!!!!

gr8 part

That really adorable how jai interacted with Krishna,, I feel roshni mite be behind his things moving in around in the office,, please get rid of roshni soon,, it was really good how tarun was teasing her, pls continue soon

Ezther, Why did you have to make Roshni this nice? Or is she nice? I dont know. I loved JB's interaction. that was a. cute scene with the babies and all. WHo is harming Jai? Tell me.... i'll take care of it. the man is here so sweet and you are bent on creating trouble for him Ezther. That is so mean!😆