SS: Waiting for you-end-part 10/epi page 28 26-09 - Page 12

Part 6

Maya was running around tot complete her job. Pias engagement was tomorrow and even though she had stopped herself several times, Maya still found herself working after her normal hours this entire month on the final plans for the decorations, the seating arrangement and all the other things. Even Jai had pronounced her crazy to pounder over something that was nearly perfect in his eyes. In events like this there had to be a little space because you never knew what would happen and what could change in the last minute. Maya knew he was right but she still argued that she wanted her first project in his company to be a huge success. In the back of her mind there was this nagging and irritating voice asking her whether she was speaking the truth. In all honesty it was a special wedding but for a whole different reason. It still was the wedding of someone close to her and Maya wanted the best.

Jai walked over to Mayas office. He knew she just came in from her visit to the flower shop, caterer and the hall where the decorators where busy for tomorrows engagement. It was after seven and she had to get up really early the next morning so Jai decided to take her home, even if he had to drag her away out of her office. Before he dropped her home he had to take her to Walia Mansion. For some reason Mausi wanted to meet her for a short while to show her something. Ever since he had introduced his Bani to his family he had learnt better then to butt in when something was going on between her and them. Jai always was at the receiving end when they would team up against her. He would complain, of course he would, but even when he complained, Jai was more then happy that his family liked her and they were okay with this relationship. Mausi adored her and felt bad when she heard from Jai what kind of life Bani had led. Mausi was her fathers darling daughter and when her father died it was like her life fell apart, even though she was already married and had a life of her own. Mausi could only guess what Bani must have missed, living without a loving family and lots of responsibilities. Adding to that, Bani was the kind of girl she wanted to see her nephew with. It took her some time to open up, get used to people around her and interacting with them, but when she opened up she showed a soft and caring nature. Bani was a quiet girl with her feet firmly plant on the ground. Bani knew what it meant to have people around you who love you. She also knew the value of money to survive but it never overruled her life and Mausi was sure she wasn't after Jais money and would never misuse what he had worked for so hard. Jigyasa was already in favour of everything that made her brother happy and whatever Jigyasa was in favour of, Aditya was fond of. Ranveer had seen her around in the office and knew his co-workers liked her. after Jai introduced Bani, Ranveer made an extra effort to get to know her and now it wasn't a rare site to find one of them in each other's office during lunch break, along with Aditya. Anu was relying on Bani more then ever for her wedding, this time not only as her wedding planner and Sahil was just like he was. Everything was fine for him. Besides Jai, his family now also started to call her by the name her mother gave her and after a long time her name didn't bother her.

Jai knocked on the door and stepped in before he got an answer and walked towards her with confidence

Maya glared at him. When you knock on the door you have to wait till someone asks you in you know that?
'Office mera hai, tum meri girlfriend ho. Permission kis se maangu?' Jai said while he bend over to press his lips against hers for a hard kiss that lasted a while. After the kiss that left Maya breathless, Jai let her be and took her papers, files and her laptop before he pulled her on her feet with his free hand. He sensed her reluctance and before she could ask any questions Jai told her about Mausi whishing to meet her tonight for a while and have dinner with them.

Maya agreed to come with him. She loved his family. Only seeing all of them together was delightful. The way everyone was interested, genuinely interested, in each other's lives, giving advice and just listening to each other was something Maya had never seen around herself. This family seemed like the families she sometimes saw on tv, in sitcoms and other shows. They were perfect. Maybe even too perfect for her. Maya feared her presence in this family. Her own dysfunctional life shouldn't have an effect on these people. Her own thoughts made that she was torn between wanting to stay close to these people and trying to stay away from them as much as possible, lest her fate would show it's effects here, but Jai made sure she didn't stay away from his life and the people in his life.

***

'Dekh Anu, tere Mama aur Bani aa gaye. Jaldi se Tony se kaho khaana lagaane ke liye aur phir Bani se baat karma!!' Mausi's loud voice could be heard as soon as Jai and Maya stepped out of the car. Jai chuckled hearing her. He knew his Bani would not be near him the first two hours. With Anu's wedding approaching, Anu was getting more tensed and hyper with every passing day, and only her weddingplanner could calm her down and assure her that everything was going to be fine and that they were working according to their schedule.

Jai was right. Maya was gone right after dinner to Anu's room and stayed there until Jigyasa and Mausi relieved her and dragged her to another room to give something to Maya.

Mausi opened her cupboard and took a packer out of it. Maya, who was talking to Jigyasa, looked surprised when Mausi held it in front of her and Jigyasa made no attempt to take it from her.

' Yeh tumhaare liye hai Bani. she heard Mausi say.

Mayas stupefied expression and her reluctance to move made that Mausi took her hand and placed the packet in it.
Open it Bani. Jigyasa nudged her.

Mayas hands trembled. She couldn't get the ribbons of the package and Jigyasa took over. After taking off the ribbons and the wrapping she took out a beautiful beige georgette saree. Maroon coloured thread work was done all over the fabric and a line of deep red stoned was placed at the top and the bottom of the saree. In the package she also saw some jewellery with maroon collared stones. Maya ran her hand over the saree.

'It's beautiful.' She whispered looking at it. Then she looked at the person who wanted her to have this.' I cant take this. Yeh bahot mehenga hai, mai kaise le sakti hoon?'

'mai de rahi hoon na, tum bas le lena.' Mausi said. 'Kal tumhaari behen ki sagaai hai. Acchi to lagni chaahiye na?'

Maya shook her head. 'Mai uski behen ki haisiyat se wahaa nahin jaa rahi hoon. Mai unke liye kaam karti hoon mausi, mai isko pehen kar wahaan kaise jaa sakti hoon?'

'Jaise hum jaa rahe hai. Tarun, Pushkar ka bhai, Jai ka dost hai. Hum sab ko bulaya hai. Tum apni behen ki sagai me behen ki haisiyat se nahin jaa sakti to humaare saath to jaa sakti hai na?'

Maya again shook her head. 'Log kya kahenge? Bina koi rishta mai.....'

Maya couldn't finish her sentence as she was stopped by Mausi as well as Jigyasa.

'You really don't think you are a part of our family?' Jigyasa asked her. ' Ask yourself, tumhe kya lagta hai? Tumhaari family hum hai Bani.' jigyasa took Maya's free hand in her own hand and pressed it lightly. Maya remembered how her father, no, how Mr. Dixit took her hand in his hands, and as soon as Maya asked if he would be a part of her life, it turned limp. Here unknown people were accepting her, with all her flaws.

Maya looked at both of the women in the room and let the tears, she was holding back, stream. She hugged both of them. 'Thank you. She whispered.

The three of them stood there, crying and laughing awkwardly at themselves afterwards. Mausi placed the packet in Mayas hands again.
'Mausi, mere bas ek request hai.' Maya said. 'Kissi ko yeh nahin pata chalna chaahiye ki mai Mr. Dixit ki kya lagti hoon. Bekaar me hungaama hoga.'
'Theek hai, mai ghar me sab ko samjhaa dungi.' Mausi assuered her. Jai's whole family knew almost everything about her life and the risk of getting everything out in the open increased with that. But Maya knew she could trust them.
Walking of the stairs , Aditya and Jai jumped up seeing their faces. Everything all right?' They asked worriedly. The women just laughed seeing their state. Maya was about to leave to her apartment when Jai offered to drop her. He would stay over because he knew how hard the following day would be for her.

It was already raining very hard on their way to Maya's apartment. Jai had trouble watching the road in the dark and with the rain pouring down on the windows of his cars, his vision was really poor. He was glad when they finally reached their destination. Maya did not seem to be bothered by the rain and the lighting that started just minutes ago. Both of them ran inside the building. Maya made herself ready to got to bed while Jai worked in the kitchen on his laptop. The thunder got even worse. Normally Maya would enjoy listening to the thunder and the sound of the rain while she laid in her comfortable bed but the sound tonight was plain scary because it was so loud. She hoped that it would not come near her house any soon. Maya watched the lightening and counted the seconds until she heard the sound. She sighed in relief when she counted 12 seconds. That meant it was 12 kilometres from here. It was a trick her teacher in school taught her and she had remembered. Maya's relief ended soon when she heard the loud sound of the thunder again. Maya pulled the comforter over her head and curled up in her bed, hoping that Jai wouldn't come in the room yet.

In the kitchen, Jai decided to end his work and shut down his laptop. Listening to the sounds outside he decided to pull out the plugs of the TV and the radio system as it would lessen the chance of damage to the appliances by the lightening. The sounds of the thinder made him hold his heart and sigh before he entered the room. He figured that Bani must be sleeping by now but was surprised when he laid down next to her and felt her tremble. Switching on the light next to him he saw her curled up. He removed the comforter and saw her pale face. Her eyes were shut tightly and her ears were covered by her hands. Jai shook her lightly.

'Bani. It's okay. Abhi khatam ho jaayega.' He whispered.

Maya opened her eyes and was relieved to see him at first but soon felt ashamed that Jai had to see her like this. What would he think of her? She removed her hands from her ears.

'Normally I like the rain. Lekin aaj accha nahin lag raha hai. I'm sorry I'm being a baby.'

Maya turned away from Jai closed her eyes, trying to sleep but the next sound of the thundered had her soon trembling again. Jai noticed she tried to compose herself and made her face him. 'You don't have to say sorry Bani. And it is okay to scared. Mai bhi dar gaya tha abhi abhi. Tum inti darr rahi thi to why didn't you call me? Mai aa jaata tumhaare paas.'

Maya shook her head. 'It's stupid. Choti si to baat hai.' But she soon contradicted herself when the sound of the thunder reached her ears and she screamed out of nowhere.

Jai pulled her closer to him. Mere paas tum keh sakti ho ki tumko darr lagta hai.'

'I don't know how to be scared in front on other people.' Maya suddenly answered.

'I have always been scared alone.' It was true. Maya had soon learned to hide it when she was scared. Maya's fear once angered her mother and she had locked her in her room when Maya cried.

'Darrna buri baat hoti hai na?' Maya asked Jai.

Jai looked at her face in disbelief. He shook his head. 'No. It's okay to be scared. Sab darte hai.'

Maya turned her face towards the ceiling. For a long time she stared at it. The thunder broke her thoughts and this time she felt a pair of arms wrap around her. It made her feel safe.

'Will you do something for me?' Maya asked him.

Jai nodded.

'Call your family. Ask them if they are all at home. Mujhe fikr ho rahi hai.'

Jai smiled and got his phone. He made a quick call while she listened. At least she was getting attached to his family.

'Sab ghar par hi hai.' He informed her.

Maya was still staring at the ceiling. 'aapko bhi darr lagta hai?' she wanted to know

'haan.'

'Kiss baat se?'

Jai thought for a while. He could make up something now but he wanted to know how she would react when he told Maya his biggest fear.

'ki tum ek din mere paas nahin rahogi.' He answered with sincerity.

It was silent. Jai hoped he didn't scare her off. Maya was still staring at the ceiling. Jai watched her expressions change. He waited for her to say something, but instead of saying a word, Maya turned towards him, put her arms around him and her head on his chest listening to his heartbeat. She fell asleep like this.

Jai didn't knew what this meant but he hoped that she would trust him and that she would know that he meant what he said.

Thanks Ranjoo for another update.