Bani woke up yawning. Jai and her returned late last night, after their…ahem, rather passionate evening together. She remembered falling asleep in the car and waking up for a few minutes to change her clothes. She turned to look for Jai and found him fast asleep, tucked comfortably in the blanket.
Bani smiled. Her eyes glanced at the clock and she almost yelled in shock. It was past 7:30 and she was suppose to be at the institute in a few minutes time. She hurriedly jumped out of bed and showered. She dressed in the first thing she saw and dashed to her car. She reached her class, panting.
Muttering a quick apology to the professor, she walked to the back and sat beside, her best friend, Ria.
"Will you ever be on time Bani?" she questioned in an exasperated voice.
"Its not my fault," Bani quickly defended. But before she could continue, Ria interrupted.
"Wait," she said, holding up her hand. "Let me guess. Its Jai's fault." Bani didn't miss the emphasis on his name.
"Shut-up Ria," she murmured, looking to the front.
"What?" Ria replied, faking innocence. "Maine toh sachi kaha hai na. Hamesha Jai ki gaalti hai. Tumhara Jai ki." (Trans: I said the truth only naa. Its always Jai's fault. Your Jai's fault.)
"What do you mean Ria?" Bani asked, irritated.
Ria didn't answer, but Bani knew anyway. Ria being a single (and ready to mingle), is sick and tired of not having someone. And on the other hand, she still can't digest the fact that her best friend is married to the coolest dude in Bombay. To make matters worse, Bani can never shut-up about Jai. Hence, Ria's mood is off most of the times.
"Waise," Ria said slowly. "What new place were you two love birds off to yesterday? What did your Jai do now?"
Bani smiled. "Oh nothing," she said calmly. "He hired a cruise for me!"
"WHAT?" Ria yelled. A few heads turned towards them and Bani laughed, as Ria quickly muttered a few apologies. "What did you say?" she asked, once everyone resumed the lesson.
"He hired this ship. It wasn't big or anything as it was meant for a couple of people."
"So you are telling me," Ria asked, shocked. "You spent last night in a yot?"
"Yup!"
Ria sighed. "Who does that? Just to make his wife happy, he hires a whole ship."
"I was shocked too. I told him to surprise me and he comes up with this. I am kinda scared and curious to see what he's gonna come up with for my anniversary gift."
"Hm, karid lega koi island," Ria said casually, as if it was a matter of buying a few chocolates. Bani laughed.
Once everyone they were busy in their assignment, Ria brought up the topic again. "So, what did you guyz do yesterday? I mean on the boat…"
"Hmm... we ate dinner, danced and talked. The usual," Bani replied, absent mindedly.
"what did you talk about?" Ria asked.
"Lets see," Bani said, trying to recollect some of their conversations. "First, I think we talk about children."
"Really?" Ria exclaimed.
Bani nodded. "He just asked me why I didn't want to have kids now."
"Why don't you want to have kids now?"
"I don't know Ria," Bani said, putting down her paint brush. "Sometimes I feel as if something bad is gonna happen to us. Its like this fear caught hold of me. It is pointless… I know, but I just having this feeling. And if something does happen, how am I suppose to carry this child through that? I want to enjoy my pregnancy."
"What did he say for that?" Ria asked quietly, trying to understand her friend.
"I didn't tell him everything. I just said that it didn't feel like the right time." When Ria didn't reply, Bani continued. "You know Jai. He will say that I am just imagining things."
"And I think he is right." Ria looked at Bani. "Just because you are scared something bad will happen, doesn't mean you won't have kids for the rest of your life."
"When did I say I won't have kids for the rest of my life? I am just saying that lets wait for a while."
"And how do you guarantee your fear will go by then?"
Bani didn't have an answer to that. "Look," she said. "Most of the time my sixth sense is right. And this time too, I know it will be right."
"That's utter nonsense Bani," Ria interjected. "On what basis are you scared."
"Don't you feel that life is a bit too perfect for me Ria?" Bani questioned. "And because its like that, something is definitely gonna happen."
"So whenever you have a peace of mind, that means something bad is coming?"
"No," Bani said. "I mean that it feels…different. Whenever I think about everything, I get scared because everything is just so…perfect." Seeing that she didn't convince Ria, she added, "I know its confusing but… you have to acknowledge the fact that the mother of kids is not ready!"
Ria sighed. Convincing Bani is next impossible. If she made up her mind, nothing can change it… well, maybe except Jai. But seeing how she is hell bent thinking something bad is going to happen, Ria wouldn't be surprise if something did happen.
"All I am saying is lets wait for a while," Bani added, seeing Ria's expression of 'she is a hopeless case'. "What's the hurry? Its not like I am going to get too old. For god's sake, I am only 24!"
Ria dropped the matter. Its her life after all…even though, she has a pointless and strange fear that something bad will happen… but still, its her life.
* * *
Bani came home exhausted. It was long day, where she ended up with more assignments, but on the bright side, it was the weekend. Checking her e-mails, Bani realized that she was suppose to pickup a gold chain she ordered a few days ago. Sighing, she picked up her purse and walked out.
As she stood at the counter, she noticed a young woman constantly glancing at her. At first, Bani ignored it. But it became more and more irritating. And finally, from the corner of her eye, she watched the stranger walk up to her.
"Do you know Pia Dixit by any chance?" the lady asked.
"Ummm…" Bani was surprised and shocked to see the woman actually have guts to come and talk. "Yeah… I am her sister."
"Oh really!" the lady exclaimed.
"I am Bani…her younger sister." Both of them shook hands.
"I am Payal," the lady said warmly. "You look a lot like your sister. When I first saw you I thought, it was her."
Bani smiled. She knew that she looked like Pia…a lot. Many people mistook them on the first glance. But now that she was gone, that mistake never happened.
"So how do you know her?" Bani asked.
"Actually what happened was that Pia booked an appointment with me for her make-up on her wedding day. And I haven't seen her after that… what happened?"
Bani took a deep breath. "She…had an accident."
"Is she okay?" Payal asked, concerned.
"She is no more!" It took a lot for Bani to stop the tears. That was one wound that will always be with her. "She died while coming back from the salon."
The lady's face was confused. "But…but she never came to the salon."
"What?"
"Yeah…that's why I am asking. She never showed up for her appointment."
"But that's not possible," Bani interjected. "She said she was leaving for the salon on the day of the wedding."
"All I know is she never came. Well, may her soul rest in peace. I have to go now. Nice meeting you Bani."
Bani nodded as Payal left. But she was confused. If Pia didn't go to the salon on the day of the wedding, where was she before the accident? That question bugged Bani, as she drove home.
* * *
Bani was standing in front of the window, looking at the sun set, when she left his arms snake around her. Jai rested his chin on her shoulder.
"Hmmm… its beautiful isn't it?" He asked, staring at the sunset too. Bani nodded absentmindedly. Her recent encounter with Payal was replaying in her head.
"Today's Friday," Jai reminded her after a while. "What do you want to do?" When Bani dind't reply, he made her turn around. He looked into her eyes and knew something was off. "What happened?"
"Nothing," Bani said dismissing his concern.
But Jai didn't let go. "You seem off… what happened?"
"I met Di's beautician today," she announced. When Jai didn't reply, she looked up. His face was blank. After living with him for almost a year, Bani knew that Jai hated talking about Pia more than anything. It was a topic that he could not tolerate.
Bani kept quiet, not knowing if she should continue. Why should she bother Jai with her family issues? But to her surprise, he said – "And?"
She took a deep breath and decided to be honest. "She told me that Di wasn't coming from the salon, when the accident took place."
Jai continued to be silent. She didn't know what to make out of it. Finally she heard him speak. "Maybe she went to some other place to get her make-up or whatever done."
"Yeah, but you need to have an appointment to get bridal make-up done and that's definetly something you can get over night," Bani interjected.
When Jai didn't seem convinced, she continued. "And even if she went somewhere else, wouldn't she atleast cancel her appointment with her beautician in the first place?"
Jai nodded, thoughtful as well. He didn't want to have this conversation with Bani on such a beautiful evening.
"I want to find out…" she said slowly. "I want to find out where Di was before her accident."
"Drop it Bani," Jai said, even before the words were out of her mouth. "Its none of your business to be poking around. Whatever happens, happen for good."
"So you are saying Di's accident happened for good?"
"Of course not… but think about it, without that, would we have been here today?" He asked, looking into her eyes. "NO! So just drop it."
Bani let the the topic drop, but not the matter. But Jai didn't need to know about this. He would get mad for no reason at all.
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
Anupamaa
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