I have managed to find a little bit of time to finish up the update since I had most of it written already. Also, I was looking for a distraction from studying. 😆 So here it is. Not the greatest, but hopefully it's good enough. Please leave comments. 😃
Chapter 21 A:
By their family pundit's consult, Ranveer and Rano's engagement became set to happen in the following two weeks and four weeks afterward their marriage would take place. The next available auspicious date would be in a year. As Rano's university holidays were approaching, it was decided that now was the best time to have a wedding. To say that the lovebirds were overjoyed would be an understatement. They were practically over the moon.
News about the possible proposal of Ranveer and Rano put forth by Jai and Bani surprised the Walia family as the thought wouldn't have ever occurred to them in a million years. They gave their consent, however, when realizing that Ranveer is old enough and Rano would be a lovely addition to their family as another daughter-in-law. Bani took it upon herself to inform her parents, who had to be coaxed and reasoned into agreeing to the proposal. Nishikant and Kiran Dixit could not fathom that their youngest daughter wanted to marry, that too, so suddenly. They made their own arrangements to have their presence made for their daughter's engagement.
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Bani sits in front of her dresser mirror placing bangles on her right wrist and chattering nine to dozen about anything that comes to mind to her husband, who busies himself in getting ready for work. Ever since the fixed engagement, his wife always has something to say.
"Mummyji has left the floral arrangements to me… I have gone ahead and ordered peonies, dahlias, and sweet peas… Do you think that will be okay? … Or should I have ordered something else? Oh, didn't Jigyasa Didi mention that Ranveer hated some specific flower? … I can't remember it… I think she had said something like---."
"Kya bakkar bakkar kharti rehti ho… I can't understand any of it," Jai replies in a frustrated sigh, having enough with this wedding madness already. Everywhere he goes it is all that anyone is willing to talk about. Not that he isn't happy for the occasion, of course he is. His oldest nephew is going to be married, that too, to his sister-in-law. He just wishes the topic wouldn't be discussed at all times.
"I am speaking of your nephew and my sister's engagement that is three days away…," she stresses purposefully and watches through the mirror as he rolls his eyes in exasperation. She bites down a smile at his expense. She finds him rather cute appearing so annoyed, like a little boy who has been forced into dress shopping with his mother.
"How can I not know? This family refuses to let me forget… You are all tittering about it always…," he grudgingly responds, approaching her seated position, using the mirror in order to comb his hair. Bani looks up at his reflection, noting the scowl marring his handsome face.
"I do not see how you should be so annoyed since you are barely around to hear most of it anyway…," she jibes which her husband ignores. Slipping on her last bangle, Bani rises from the seat before the dresser and pushes her hair to one shoulder. She calls for her husband's attention.
"Sunno… tie my dori for me, will you?"
She indicates to the back of her blouse that remains slightly opened from the top half. Jai sets down the brush when perfecting his hair and follows her direction to the creamy expanse of her fair back. He steps directly behind her and sets to the task, taking the two strings into his hold and tying them together securely as she waits patiently for him to finish. He releases the strings, ready to retreat and locate his handkerchief, carrying on with his daily routine, till his fingers brush ever so gently against her skin. Stumped, Jai's fingers linger and he marvels at how unbelievably smooth her porcelain seeming skin is.
He slowly inches closer and is hit with the scent of jasmine wafting from her silky hair. Unconscious of his actions, his hand trails upward till it has a firm grip onto her shoulder. His other hand follows pursuit in sieging her left shoulder. His gaze flickers over to the slender column of her neck, exposed nakedly to his eyes that drink in the sight. He leans forward and places a soft kiss….followed by another as he leisurely makes his way along the path down to her shoulder.
"Jai, did you hear what I said?"
Jai is broken out of the strong reverie that had captivated him unexpectedly.
"Ma and Papa are arriving this afternoon… Aditya Jiju is taking me to receive them from the train station… You will come home on time to see them, won't you?" Bani questions hopefully.
Jai takes a good moment to collect himself and divert his focus onto his wife, who stands by his wardrobe closet withdrawing a white handkerchief from one of the many drawers inside. His head reels from what had gotten over him just a moment ago. He clears his throat, his voice coming out rusty.
"I will try…"
Bani smiles thankfully while handing him the handkerchief, which he takes rather jittery from her, stuffing it into his pant pocket. He avoids her bright eyes that stare at him so directly.
"Er… I am going downstairs to eat," he announces suddenly in a rough tone that catches his wife off guard and exits from the bedroom promptly, knowing that he just had to get out of there and away from her at all costs. He eventually forgot the imaginary incident by immersing himself into his work later on that day.
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"Ma… Papa!" she shouts from across a distance, standing on the balls of her feet and waving her right hand high into the air. She waits for the middle-aged couple to hear her cries and smiles sunnily as their attention directs onto her instead of their suitcases. She breaks out into a paced run, eager to meet with them while they descend from the train and step onto the platform.
Various emotions consume Bani whilst surpassing the crowd to get to her parents, whom she had last seen the day after her marriage over two years ago. Responsibilities as a wife, mother, and daughter-in-law and schooling kept her grounded in Mumbai, unable to pay visits to Mount Abu to see her mother and father whenever she could. For the past years they made use of phone calls only. She yearned to be held in her mother's embrace, to receive her father's affectionate kisses, and to immerse herself in their presence. But now she has that chance.
"Bani," her mother nearly weeps at the sight of her daughter, who has matured significantly over the past couple of years. Long gone is the care-free spirited teenage girl replaced by a poised young woman.
"Mama," Bani addresses respectfully, tears lining in her eyes as she smiles radiantly. She astounds her mother by reaching down to receive her blessings. The Bani that Kiran Dixit remembered would have squealed and jumped onto her mother, creating a big public display. It is clear that things have now changed. Overcoming her shock, she smiles gingerly while blessing her affectionately before pulling her into her arms, wanting the satisfaction of having her daughter with her once again.
Bani blinks back tears, not wanting to appear as an emotional fool in front of her parents, determined in showing them that she has grown over the years and that she is not the same childish girl they gave away.
"How was your trip?" she inquires politely when retreating from her mother's arms. Kiran cups her daughter's cheek fondly, her eyes greedily drinking in her daughter's appearance.
"It was well, beta… Now that I have seen you… all my troubles are forgotten," her mother replies warmly, referring to the long excruciating travel, furthering Bani's already formed smile.
Her gaze trails toward her father, who emerges into view behind her mother, and she beams in delight. She immediately goes toward him, greeting him, and taking his blessings as well.
"Papa, how are you?" Bani chirps in contained excitement, taking her father aback as he too like his wife was used to their daughter's overly animated affection in the past. He, however, smiles widely while stopping her from touching his feet and draws her into a bear hug then kissing the top of her head.
"Forget about us, beta, how are you?! You have seemed to change so much…both appearance and behavior. My old Bani would have caused a scene right here in public by now with your screams…," he jokes making both Kiran and Bani giggle whilst briefly reminiscing the past.
"Papa… that was back then… I am not that little girl anymore… ," she informs dually, bringing about pleased smiles onto both her parent's faces as they note this fact as well. Nishikant Dixit places a hand onto her hair.
"That is clear for both your mother and I to see….," he states.
"Come Mama and Papa… Aditya Jiju is waiting outside in the car since we could not find parking…. We should not make him wait for too long… We will talk inside the car….Come," she urges, helping her father in carrying the luggage and conversing easily with her parents on the way to the car.
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The Dixits became well re-acquainted with the Walias over lunch, catching up one another with each other's lives, and discuss fervently about the upcoming wedding. Towards the evening, Bani continued to spend quality time with the adults of her entire family gathered in the living room, watching Yash play happily with his grandparents and showering in their endless affection.
"Arre, Yash has become so naughty…," Kiran comments on one of the toddler's usual antics as he dodges having to drink his glass of milk served by his fussing mother.
"Kiran ji… this is nothing new. This is how our Yash baba is…," Krishna laughs mirthfully.
"He has gone after his mother…. Even Bani used to be this naughty as a child… I am sure Yash has learned this from her," Nishikant adds in good humor, earning laughter from all around as they agree to the fact. Whereas Yash seems confused by what is being discussed, Bani grimaces at her father for disclosing this information to her in-laws.
"Papa… I was not so bad… Besides, I do not teach any of this to my son… I do not know where he gets all this naughtiness…"
"He must have gotten it from Jai. .. Remember Ma, even Jai used to behave like this when he was little… to this day he still does not drink milk unless he has to," Jigyasa brings forth, recollecting from her brother's childhood. Krishna perks up on this reminder.
"Yes… Jai would behave the same way as Yash… I too would have to chase him around the house just to drink even an ounce of milk… He was very naughty, often made things difficult for me… Unless his father scolded him, he would continue with his ways," Krishna discusses amusingly, reflecting over how similar both son and father are when regarding their behavior. She does not have the slightest doubt that Yash will grow up to be like Jai.
"Speaking of damad ji... Will he be arriving soon?" Kiran asks politely, as she has met each member of the family with the exception of her daughter's husband.
"He will be coming soon… The hospital keeps him so busy, his schedule is never the same…," Jigyasa explains to which Kiran and Nishikant nod understandingly.
"Don't worry Kiran ji, Jai will surely come… Bani had told him after all to be on time… Else she will definitely scold him for coming late," Aditya adds his two cents in. "Haina, Bani?"
"Jiju," Bani pleads, blushing as her parents' raise their eyebrows on hearing this. The Walias laugh when also adding that Bani routinely is found to be scolding Jai for his working schedule.
"It had been Krishna who would fuss over Jai Puttar… now it is our Bani who has taken up that responsibility," Dadi chimes, making Bani more and more embarrassed with the attention centered on her and her husband for discussion.
"She will not scold me this time because I have not come late…," they all hear Jai's voice from behind and look to see him approaching them in the living room, having just come from work. He places his briefcase off to the side before going to his in-laws and taking their blessings from them.
"Jeete raho, beta," Kiran blesses fondly when placing her hand on the top of his hand. Jai Walia stares at his father-in-law and mother-in-law with the utmost respect that he felt they deserved especially after his indifferent behavior with them for the past couple of years.
"Aapka safaar kaisa tha Mama… Papa?"
"It was just fine Jai …. Come, sit please…," Nishikant directs to the seat opposite from him which Jai takes. On seeing his father, Yash forgoes his grandparents and jumps onto his lap instead arousing smiles from everyone.
"I will just go and have Dinner prepared now that you have come home, Jai… Jigyasa," Krishna addresses her daughter, who follows after her into the kitchen to assist allowing Bani to be with her parents.
"How is work, beta?" Nishikant inquires, wanting to strike conversation with his estranged son-in-law, knowing that they hadn't left off on good terms. They have not been able to re-establish the good relationship they seemed to share when Ananya was still alive.
"It is good… It keeps me very busy, though…," Jai answers vaguely, not providing any more information than he already has disclosed. Bani directs a glance at her husband, knowing very well that he usually wishes to not speak about the heavy workload at the hospital and instead unwind at home.
"You look very tired… I hope you are taking care of yourself," Kiran pipes in worriedly, evoking a small smile from her son-in-law for her concern. Before he can answer, his wife speaks up on his behalf.
"Of course not Mama… He is a doctor so he thinks that nothing affects him… I cannot tell you how many times he has gone skipping meals…not taking medicine….not sleeping enough. He does not listen," Bani complains.
Jai flashes an exasperated look for this. "Banee…"
Nishikant laughs at the exchange between his daughter and son-in-law. "No worries, son… Kiran does the same ….She is always nagging after me as well."
"Arre… I am your wife… Who else will take care of you if I don't?" she questions lightly. "Waise, Bani has the right to scold Jai beta… She is his wife after all…," she defends her daughter, who smiles for the support.
After some light conversation, the four of them are interrupted by Krishna who announces that dinner is ready to be served and to join her and the rest of the family at the dining table. While Krishna takes Nishikant and Kiran along, Jai, Bani, and Yash linger behind.
"What is this? Yash has not finished his milk again?" Jai questions, indicating to the filled glass resting on the tabletop beside him.
"I have been trying to get him to drink milk for the past hour… but your son will not listen," Bani explains defeated, tired of having to deal with the ordeal of getting their son to obey. Yash ignores his mother's comment while playing with the toy ship his grandparents gave him quietly to himself.
"Yash… Drink your milk… Do not give Mama a hard time," Jai warns, drawing his son's attention onto him.
"Papa, it's yucky… I no drink it."
"It is good for you, son… It will help with your bones and make you grow….," he advises, hoping that this information will make him want to drink it.
"Nooooo, papa pweeaze!"
"Yash, be a good boy and listen."
"Papa… you drink… I drink…," Yash instead suggests, much to his parents' amusement, particularly Jai's.
"Now beta… How will that make you want to drink it?" Jai puts across, not conceding to his son's words.
"Pweeaaazzz Papa! You drink… I drink…. I pomise!"
"Yashh--…," Jai begins in saying sternly till interrupted.
"Jai…"
Jai looks toward to his wife, who looks at him beseechingly, pleading to him to comply and do what their son says. They have a silent battle through their eye lock, his wife begging and Jai not complying. He refrains from sighing exasperatedly. With how his wife silently begs him, he cannot refuse her any longer. Caving, Jai gazes at the glass of milk in his hand with clear disdain. After a long hesitant moment and casting a weary look in his wife's direction, he raises the glass to his lips and takes a good gulp from his most detested drink since childhood. He guises his actual reaction and instead claims how delicious the milk is, bringing a pleased smile to Bani's lips. Yash is motivated by his father to drink it and obediently takes the glass from his father.
Jai swallowed the liquid with much difficulty and has every mind to go rinse his mouth out. He watches his son drink the milk obediently and notes how clever he has gotten. The boy has caught on to his father's dislike. Jai wonders what more this boy will put him through over the years if he continues to get cleverer.
On hearing his wife's sudden giggling, Jai looks to her with question and glowers when seeing her laughing at his expense. He is annoyed as it is that she made him drink the milk and now she is poking fun about it.
"What are you laughing at?" he almost snaps. She clasps a hand over her grinning mouth, trying to conceal her laughter, knowing that her husband isn't too happy with her at the moment for having to concede to her request.
Jai's annoyance dies down quickly when reluctantly admitting to himself that he cannot ever be angry with Bani, particularly now as she appears exceptionally lovely with her bright smile and twinkling eyes. He watches as she bites down on her bottom lip for a moment before directing a finger at him.
"You have… a milk mustache….," she explains sweetly, the curves of her lips twitching into another beautiful smile.
Jai, now realizing why his wife had been so amused, becomes self-conscious on how he appears and immediately lifts his hand to wipe away the remaining residue of the liquid till Bani stops him.
"Wait…"
Halting his hand midway he looks on as she takes a grip onto the pallu of her cotton teal saree and approaches him. She lifts the pallu to his upper lip and gently dabs the milk residue away in the meantime chuckling at the cute sight he made with the mustache.
"All gone," she declares brightly. Jai remains transfixed by her smile and watches silently as she ushers Yash to go to the dining table along with her. She chirps for Jai to freshen himself and join them at dinner as well. Jai watches her go longingly, his chest swelling with a certain emotion he was not willing to put a name to….not yet at least.
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"Rano ki baachi… Why did you not tell your father and me that you wanted to marry Ranveer? Why did your Bani Di have to call us on your behalf, hm?" their mother questioned in the privacy of Rano's bedroom after dinner. Whereas Rano is tongue tied and too embarrassed to answer her mother's demands, Bani steps in to defend her baby sister.
"Ma… so what, I am her older sister… I have the right, don't I? And now please you too do not harass Rano, poor girl has gotten enough teasing from this family as it is along with Ranveer…"
"Bani, Ma hoon main uski… mujhe bhi haaq hai…," Kiran explains affectionately to her daughter, whom Kiran has found since coming to Mumbai that she can no longer scold as she respects Bani too much to do so. A daughter who without any complaints followed her parents' wish to marry her dead sister's husband and be the mother to her child at such a young age deserves insurmountable respect in return. Kiran Dixit will forever be in debt and awe of her daughter, who has handled all her responsibilities gracefully and properly.
Bani remains quiet, realizing that her mother is right, and watches in amusement as Kiran light-heartedly harasses Rano further wanting to know the reason why such a bright child is in such a rush to get married all of a sudden. It took Bani's clarification that their mother is only joking to cheer up a dismayed Rano.
The mother-daughters trio chatted endlessly about the engagement arrangements and the upcoming wedding as well as teasing Rano in the midst of it all till Kiran grew emotional on having both daughters with her once again. Only she knew how much she pined for both her daughters, how their absences haunted her, and how she constantly reminisced about the past where they were a happy family of five: a father and mother with their three beautiful daughters that brought immense happiness into their home.
Bani, who hugs Rano whilst singing wedding tunes to embarrass the blushing bride-to-be, is the first to notice the water sparkling in her mother's dark brown eyes.
"Arre, Ma, kya hua?"
Rano seems concerned as well since Kiran looks to them with tears brimming in her eyes.
"…. I wish your Ananya Di was here with us…," Kiran speaks wistfully, bringing upon a prevailing silence that engulfs the three women in the room….
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"How have you been son?" his father-in-law asks in the solitude of the study, where both he and Jai have resorted to for a nightcap after dinner. After pouring his wife's father a drink, Jai sets to filling his own glass and lounges onto his desk chair, meeting Nishikant's pondering gaze. Staring into it, Jai is struck by the exact detail of his father-in-law's eyes matching his wife's honey brown ones. This thought hadn't occurred to him till now.
"I have been fine, Papa," Jai answers politely, turning his attention instead onto his drink and swirling the contents inside around. He felt awkward around Nishikant. He hasn't spoken to his in-laws properly since the past couple of years. They had shared an amicable relationship which became shattered and left to shards from his first wife's death. He does not know how to begin in amending the relationship as doesn't Nishikant, who is making small attempts.
"That is good to hear… Kiran and I worry for you," Nishikant adds hesitantly. He sees how Jai looks up from his drink and to him instead. Slowly a small smile adorns his lips.
"There is no need, Papa… I am okay," Jai assures, wanting to relieve his father-in-law from any apprehensions he has about him. Nishikant nods his head understandingly.
"… And you and Bani? How… how are you two doing?" he questions further after taking a sip of his alcoholic beverage. Meeting his direct gaze once more, Jai understands his fatherly concern for both him and his daughter and does not blame him for it. He is a father after all. He has their best interest at heart, particularly for his daughter.
"We are good… She takes well care of me and our family…," he provides, watching the lines of worry gradually give away from the old man's face. He takes a sip of his own drink whereas Nishikant doesn't seem completely at ease just yet.
"Are you happy, son?"
Jai takes a brief moment to relish the taste of scotch trickling down his throat before responding.
"… Yes, I am," he replies genuinely as it is the truth. He has a family who loves and stands by him despite his past neglect, he has a son who idolizes him, and a wife who is brightening every aspect of his previously remorse existence. He does not want to ruin this feeling of content by questioning his relationship with his wife, wanting to keep things as it is, for now at least.
Nishikant visibly softens on hearing this statement.
"Are you done with your questionnaire, Papa?" Jai quips lightly back, attempting to lighten the mood between them. A smile uplifts his father-in-law's earlier troubled appearing face.
"Yes, I am sorry, beta… I wanted to settle my own concerns… We may have not spoken in some time, but I want to make it clear that I and your mother-in-law care very much about you… We think of you as the son we never had. So to hear that you are happy has relieved me… We want nothing else but for you and Bani to be happy," he ends warmly.
"… I am sorry, Papa, for the way I have behaved … It was selfish and wrong. I should not have stopped speaking to you and Ma… I realize now how much I have hurt the both of you," Jai apologizes sincerely, consumed in guilt the moment he met his in-laws after more than two years. He feels like an ass for breaking ties with the couple, who only ever cared for him. He did not think that his actions would cause them so much trouble and pain.
Nishikant smiles sadly at him, placing a firm hand onto one of Jai's broad shoulders, silently accepting the apology as he had forgiven his son-in-law long back.
"Ananya's death was not easy on you… We knew that well. … We just hoped that you would come around eventually… I see now that you are at a better place compared to then…," he notes openly, having observed this from Jai's comfortable interaction with Bani and Yash.
"Unlike Kiran, however, she still allows memories of Ananya to haunt her…," Nishikant confesses, arousing his son-in-law's attention to the approached topic of his mother-in-law.
"…. She refuses to forget her… continuing to live in the past. She puts up a brave front, though, not wanting to show her grief to anyone, not even her own husband… But it is evident how her heart has been broken… She still grieves for Ananya as if it were just yesterday she passed away not more than three years ago…. I do not blame her though… as a parent, it is very hard to lose a child and come to terms of the loss...," he continues in a gentler tone, looking away, his honey eyes seeming distantly glazed.
"… Papa?"
Breaking into his daze, Jai watches when Nishikant's clear sadden eyes look to him hopelessly.
"How is it that you were finally able to move past the pain? … How do you get back the happiness you once lost, beta?"
Stumped, Jai does not know how to answer this one question of his father-in-law's. How does he tell him that he misses Ananya less and less that too because of Bani's warm presence in his life? Her support, concern, strength, and soothing nature slowly and progressively mended his broken heart that he felt could not be healed. Her radiant smiles, twinkling wide eyes, melodious voice, and sweet laughter replacing the hollowness that once occupied his hollow form, instead spreading warmth into each and every nook of his body. He is not able to explain even to himself—how does he tell Nishikant about his strong feelings for his daughter?
"Time and the love and support from your family… It heals all wounds," he finds himself saying to the distraught older man.
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Jai had been checking the messages and emails on his blackberry when his wife quietly slipped into their bedroom late into the night. He glances up at her, curious as to where she has been all this time since he had to put Yash to sleep because she was not around. He gives a side look to the clock beside him before redirecting his attention onto her.
"Where were you?" he asks casually.
He overlooks the forlorn expression written on her face and how she is startled by his question as if coming out of a daze.
"…. I was with Rano and Ma…," she answers softly. Jai nods his head understandingly and watches her walk into the bathroom, taking her nightdress with her. When she came out, he was still checking through his messages just before calling a night. She joins him at the bed, sitting on her side and gazing at his back on the other side of the mattress.
"…. Jai?"
"Hmm?" he inquires unmindfully, too distracted with reading one of his emails.
"Goodnight," she wishes after a pausing moment. She watches as her husband casts a look over his shoulder, sending a soft smile in her way. "Goodnight," he returns.
She gathers the comforter over her and places her head down, clutching tightly onto the pillow. She wanted to say something else, ask him questions… ask him if he too missed Ananya greatly to the extent her mother does to this day….if he wished she were alive…if he loved her so passionately still.
Her mother had become emotional, confessing that she still grieves for Ananya. Bani did not understand how to provide solace to her mother's broken heart. Of course Bani misses Ananya, but she could not offer anything to say as she hasn't thought about her deceased sister in a while. It was not a conscious thought to forget her, but it had happened on its own accord the past years…and she had done it by carrying on, not bothering to look back but forward as her mother-in-law advised earlier in her marriage. Does it make her a bad person by not remembering her sister at all times like her mother does? But above all, does it make her a bad person that she is content with her life despite her sister's absence from it? That she has finally moved on, getting her life together, and living it the best that she can? That she has found love in her husband and son who originally were not hers?
She convinces herself that she is not. She is a human being who is only living and there is no crime in that. She has put the past behind her, instead, treasuring her present and looking forward to the future. She only hopes the same for her mother, who has continuously lived in the past.
As for Jai, she wishes with all her heart that he too will live for the future…their future…after having accepted her truly, mind, body, and soul, as his wife….
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Sorry about the misleading preview by the way. 😆 Did not mean to raise up your expectations.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
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