SS: Waiting for you-end-part 10/epi page 28 26-09 - Page 15

Part 8

The annoying beeping of his alarm clock woke him up. Jai almost jumped out of bed in his bedroom in the silent Walia Mansion, remembering it was Pushkar's wedding today and he hadn't seen Bani in two days. With Pushkar's bachelor party on the day that Bani was at the Dixit residence for Pia's mehendi, Jai had to run around as he was throwing the party and he had keep a close eye on Pushkar's young friends and the groom and his brother himself, because they were close to passing out three hours after the party started. Bani just called him once because she was busy herself and she didn't want to distract him from his party. She send him two messages though. One to tell him to have fun and another one a few hours later to tell him not to drink to much. Jai immediately put down the glass of champagne he was holding in his hands, smiling that she cared about him. He was already feeling a bit lightheaded and didn't want to make it worse. Jai came back from the party late, after dropping off a very happy groom and his brother who would have to sleep in the guest room for sure.

Jai was too tired the next day and woke up after noon and immediately got dressed for the sangeetfunction. He called Bani to ask her how Pia's mehendi ceremony went. Bani sounded too busy, but she was in a good mood too. Jai figured out she was too occupied with her work yesterday to be bothered to be around her father's family and her father. He didn't knew that she was running her socks off today as well when the agency she had called to send over waiters, didn't fulfill the agreement and didn't send the number of people she had requested. Bani managed to call some of the Walia restaurants too ask for numbers of waiters. Her entire day went up in making phone call to people who might want to work on their day off to make some extra money, next to overseeing the arrangements for the function that evening. Near the beginning of the party, Bani had managed to get some people to wait on the guest but it was nearly not the amount of people she needed so she finished her tasks as soon as possible and got a waitress uniform for herself. At the party, Bani managed to keep the running of the functions as smooth as possible next to playing waitress. In spite of being in the same building and in the same room, Jai and Bani didn't meet. She did meet his family briefly and rushed off to do something else. Jai went home earlier then expected because Mausi was tired. Bani went home after everything was cleaned up and ready for the next day. The big day.

Driving to the Dixit house, Jai was sure he could see Bani there. His family was already there. Thinking about her he reached the house to find out that the wedding ceremony was almost ending. Jai decided to walk around in the house, hoping to catch a glimpse of Bani when he saw the small and big photo frames, displaying the happy moments of the family that lived there. A feeling of contempt took over every time he saw the image of that man in one of the frames, laughing and smiling at his children. Jai tried to look away before his feelings would turn in a curse for him and his family. Jai walked away and tried to focus on Bani again. He couldn't find her and when he suddenly saw Bobby, the man Bani asked to do the decoration, and he stopped him.'Bani kahan hai?' He asked him.
Bobby looked at him, absorbing every inch of him with his eyes. After giving a look of approval, Bobby managed to ask. 'Kaun Bani?'
Jai sighed in annoyance. 'Maya. Where is she?'

'At the wedding reception hall. She left half an hour ago. The rest of the things here are family things anyway so Mrs. Dixit said she could leave to do other things. I would stick around to oversee the final stuff.'
Jai gave a curt nod and turned around to find Tarun standing in front of him, complaining about his headache from too much drinking the past couple of days. At this point Jai didn't really care and just agreed to make Tarun keep his mouth and end this conversation so he could call Bani. Tarun eventually did go away and Jai took out his mobile when he heard the voice of Mr and Mrs, Dixit who were giving something to their youngest daughter. Pia wanted some changes in the hall and they made Rano go there and explain it too Bani. They made Rano take her clothes with her to get dressed there. Jai heard someone call his name and walked away for a while. When he came back he saw Rano, hesitantly sitting in a car with one of Pushkars weird nephews who drank himself silly on the bachelor party. The guy drove off in high speed. Jai wanted to follow them but was stopped by Tarun who was talking to him again. After Jai managed to shoo him off, he finally called Bani.

How are the arrangement going?' was his first question.

'That is what you are bothered about?' She asked him.
'Not really. I have some other things but I don't think you would like to hear...'

Bani cut him off before he would try to flirt with her. everything here is almost done. she answered like Jai never said anything.Maine fresh phool bhi lagwaa diya hai. Most of the things are the same as last night. I am just waiting for the cake and in a few hours the cooks will start cooking. So evrything is almost done.'

'Good. So you can enjoy the part tonight. Kal to tum jaise thi hi nahin.' He complained.

'I know. Jee kar raha hai us Sharma ko maar daalu. Mujhse promise kar ke mukar gaya. The people that waited on the guests last night had to work so hard. Mujhe bura lag raha tha.

Jai smiled, just listening to her voice. He suddenly remembered something.
Bani do me a favour please. Rano wahan aa rahi hai. Uske parents ne bheja hai to do something for Pia. Lekin jiske saath bheja hai I don't trust him one bit. Watch out for her.

What???!!! they send her just like that?? I'll go and look for her!' She screamed.
'No, don't do that. She should be there in ten minutes. If she isn't there then give me a call we'll both go and look for her okay.'
At that exact moment a pale looking Rano stepped in the hall. Bani rushed too her. Rano was obviously not feeling well. Rano, kya huwa?' Bani gently patted her cheek.
'Nothing. She answered in a faint whisper. I am just feeling nauseous. Who gadha itni tez gaari chala raha tha. Bas mai.... Rano ran off to the direction of the bathrooms and closed the door. Bani heard noises of Rano throwing up. Bani stepped in the cubicle and saw Rano bent over the toilet. Bani stroke Rano over her back, trying to make her feel better. She was still holding her mobile in her other hand with Jai on the other side.
She is here. I'll call you back later.' She whispered in her phone.

An okay, bye From his side later she hung up and turned to Rano again who finished throwing up.

Bani guided her to the washbasin and helped her rinse her mouth.
Feeling better?' She asked her.
Rano nodded. Inte dino se heavy khaana khaa rahi hoon na, isliye.
Ill order you some soup. Tumne shaayed aaj theek se bhi nahin khaaya hai.
Bani helped Rano to the room, that was prepared for Pias change and asked for food, for Rano. Rano sat in the chair with her eyes closed.

Tum yahaan kyun aayi ho? something you had to do?'
Rano nodded. 'Pia didie asked you to take care of a few things.
Bani listened to her patiently, keeping a close watch on her . Someone brought Ranos soup and Bani made sure she had a few sips while she made some phone calls and asked her staff to make the changes Pia wanted.
'Thank you.' Rano said while wiping her mouth. Bani looked at her intently. 'Your welcome. Look, abhi sab log aane waale hai. Why dont you take your time and change? Tum apne kapre saath

,me laayi ho na?' Bani asked her.

Rano looked at her. Bani noticed her uncomfortable look
Kya huwa? Itni pareshan kyun ho?'

Bani saw her worried face. Her eyes were teary.
'apni behen ko miss karogi?'
Rano nodded and burst out in tears, but something told her that this wasn't the only reason.
Bani sat down next to her and patted her head softly letting her cry.
'Is something wrong?' Bani asked after a while.
No.
You can tell me.
Rano relaxed in Bani's embrace. 'Didie chali jaayegi to mama aur papa udaas ho jaayege.'
'Haan woh to hai. lekin tum to ho na unke paas.'
'Lekin mai didi to nahin!' Rano cried. ' Didi is always there. Woh unko hasaati hai, joke karti hai. Sab se khoobsoorat woh hai. Ghar me unki wajaah se raunak rehti hai. Woh mai to nahin kar sakti hoon?'
Bani looked at the face of the eighteen year old girl in front of her. Bani bit her lip, noticing the resemblance between her and this girl. She wished for any other kind of resemblance between her and her sister, but not this. Not the insecurity.
Bani cupped her face, pushing Ranos hair back. You don't need to be like your Didi. Tum apni mama aur papa ki beti ho. They love you. You don't need to worry about what you are not. Focus on what you are. Pata hai, kisi ne mujhse kaha hai, ki mai jaisi hoon waise hi sab se acchi hoon.' Bani said with a charming smile, remembering the person who said that. And that counts for you too. You are smart and charming. Tum bahot pyaari ho aur tum jaisi ho waise sab se achhi ho. It makes you the Rano your parents love. They don't want and don't need another Pia understand?'
Rano gave a faint smile.
Aur rahi khoobsoorat wali baat.' Bani continued. 'You are very beautiful but you cant see that yet. You need to look through my eyes. Aaj mai tumho taiyyar karungo. Afterall dulhan ki behen ho, chotti dulhan to lagni chaahiye na?' She smiled.
Rano stood up and hugged her. Bani walked down the stairs and found the case with Rano's clothes and jewellery. She walked back to the room and removed the dress for her. It was a beautiful but simple dark green fishcut lehenga with silver work that would complement Rano's dusky complexion. Bani combed her hair, help Rano changed from her salwaar kameez into her lehenga and applied some of the few make-up items she carried around on Rano. Bani didn't like the jewellery. With the simple lehenga Rano could carry of something more then the plain silver jewellery. Bani called Anu and asked her to bring a set Bani had in her house that would match Rano's clothes. Anu got the spare key from Jai's room and brought the things Bani had asked for and left immediately to get ready for the party herself.
Two hours later Rano didn't recognize the girl that was looking at her in the mirror. Her eyes were deceiving her. A green lehenga with silver work on it. Bani had put the dupatta around her neck and tucked a corner of the dangling ends of it in the waistband of her lehenga under her belly button so it would still show the work on the dupatta. Rano was conscious about her lanky figure but this actually gave her curves. Looking up, Rano saw a silver necklace around her neck with green stones in it. Hoop earnings with green danglers adorned her ears. It wants elaborate and Bani knew it wasn't real silver but it looked very good on her. Her hair, after being tied in a bun for two hours and with hairspray in it, was now let loose in soft curls. The top half of her hair was pinned together with green pins. With just a bit of blush, eyeliner and a light brown gloss on her lips she looked amazing. It was nothing extravagant, just a bit more then Rano would use or how she would dress but Rano's personality shone right through it. She couldn't believe her eyes.

Rano touched her face and her clothes. After admiring herself she touched her glasses and wanted to take them off when Bani stopped her.
'Chashma kyun utaar rahi ho?'
' Accha nahin lagta hai. Log chirhaayenge.' She said shyly.
Tumhe accha lagta hai?'
Rano nodded.
Then don't take them off. You feel comfortable with them then you should keep it on.'

Rano hugged Bani again. 'Thank you. Aap bahut acchi hai.'
A knock on the door interrupted them. One of the assistants came looking for Bani.
Ma' am khaan bhi taiyyaar hai. The flower arrangements are also done and the bar and food station is set up, only the food has to be brought in. The guests are on there way from the ceremony.'
Bani looked at her watch. Theek hai. Check the sound system once more and ask the band whether they need anything else. As soon as you see guests coming in ask the waiters to serve them some drinks and dinner should be served when the bride's family arrives. While the bride will get dressed, the guest should have their dinner.

Bani turned to Rano again. 'I should be getting to work now. Tumhari family abhi ati hogi. You want to wait here ya mere saath chalogi?'
'I'll wait here for mama and didi. Thank you.'
Bani walked to the door and looked back once at the girl who was watching herself in the mirror, not believing that it was her own reflection in there.

Jai looked around in the hall. He came earlier to see if everything was ready and actually for another reason too, only she hadn't seen him come in. She was looking at a few papers, sitting on a barstool in corner of the hall. Dressed in a black suit with a pink satin shirt underneath, wearing black booths with a small heel and her hair tied up in ponytail, she looked like the professional she was, but with feminine touch. Jai walked up and stood behind her with the intention to startle her. When he put his arms around her she just leaned back against him.

'That's not fair. You should get scared.' He complained.
' Then you shouldn't use the same aftershave every time' Bani mimicked his tone

Jai gave a push to barstool so Bani would turn around and face him. He hugged her and stood there for a while.

' Aaj to mere liye time hai na?' Jai asked her.

'I think so. Sab to ho gaya. How was the bachelor party?'

'Nice. They all got drunk.'

'Except you?' She carefully asked.

'yeah. Except me.' Jai grinned. 'Why aren't you dressed yet, are you going to keep on this?'

'Haan. Aaj dress-up karne ka man nahin kar raha hai. But why are you wearing a suit again? Kuch aur nahin mila?'

'Jaise ki?'

Bani thought for a while. 'jaise ki…..sherwaani. I would love to see you in a sherwaani.' She said with her head still leaned against his chest.

' Mai to sirf apni shaadi me sherwaani pehnunga. Woh bhi apni biwi ki pasand ki.'

' Theek hai. Mujhe invite karna mat bhoolna.' She said in an attempt to tease him. ' I will get to see you in a sherwaani atleast.'

'Meri shaadi tumhaare bina kaise ho sakti hai?' Jai tried to outsmart her.

' Haan, weddingplanner jo hoon. Oopar se aaki employee. Discount me kaam karwaayenge na.'

Jai accepted his defeat. He could never win from her but he wasn't ready to admit it' Will you shut up Bani!' he finally said.

Bani began to laugh. Jai looked at the top of her head, remembering how probably a month an a half ago Jai casually brought up the topic of marriage and how it had disturbed her. She avoided talking to him for a few days before she somehow turned back to normal. Now she was sitting in front of him and comfortably joking about the whole situation, knowing what he meant.

Bani broke out of his embrace and looked at him. ' Suit looks good on you too.' She then pulled him closer, opened the three buttons of his jacket and slid her hands underneath it, to Jai's surprise. This time she hugged him, resting her head on his chest again. Jai put his arms around her.

It took him a while but after that Jai noticed that her hands felt ice-cold on his back, through his shirt, and she was slightly shivering. He touched her forehead. It wasn't exactly burning but it was warmer then it usually was.

' Kya huwa?' He asked her. 'Thand lag rahi hai?'

'Hmmm. Kal Bobby mujhe ghar choorne gaya. Raaste me baarish hone lagi. Gaari se utarte waqt bheeg gayi. Tab se thand lag rahi hai.'

Jai tightened his hold on her. 'have some tea.' he suggested.

'Subah se cheh cup pee chuki hoon. Kuch assar nahin kar raha hai.'

'Take a sip of brandy. that works.'

'yeah right.' Bani said in disbelieve.

'Really it works.'

'maybe later.' Bani saw some of the guests come in through the front door. She left go of Jai, although she immediately felt cold again and closed the buttons of his jacket again. Placing a kiss on his cheek she got of the barstool. 'See you later!' and she walked towards the guests to welcome them, leaving Jai behind, knowing he was smiling at her.

(Niru is this enough JB mush for you sweety???)

Three hours later the hall was filled with dancing, laughing and smiling people. Pia and Pushkar had cut the cake and had their first dance an hour ago. Everyone seemed to have a good time. Bani looked around in the hall. She saw Rano dancing with one of her cousins, enjoying all the way. She looked more confident then Bani had seen her before and happier then Bani had seen her before. Rano suddenly left the dance floor and walked off when her mother came and whispered something in her ears. Rano saw Bani and waved at her. Bani waved back. Rano walked to the bride's room and got what her mother had asked for. On her way down she met her father who she hadn't seen since the wedding ceremony. Nishikant kept looking at his daughter. She looked all grown up all of a sudden. Rano noticed the look in his eyes. ' Kaise lag rahi hoon papa?' She asked him.

Nishikant was quiet. Rano carefully turned on the stair step to give her father a better look of her dress and her hair.

'baataayiye na papa?!! ' Rano pleaded. ' Kaisi lag rahi hoon?'

'Jaisi sapno ki raajkumari.' Nishikant answered with warmth in his voice.

' Didi ne kiya hai.' Rano

Nishikant was surprised. ' Pia ne? Kaise? Woh to poora din busy thi.'

' Pia didie nahin papa.' Rano answered. 'Maya didie. Unki wedding planner. Pata hai papa, who bahot acchi hai. Mujhse bahot acchi tarah se baat kar rahi thi. Aur mere liye yeh sab kiya. I am going to ask her number, I want to meet her after the wedding, Pia didie ki yaad bhi kam aayegi. Okay papa, I have to run. Mama is waiting for me.' Rano ran past her father, down the stairs to her mother.

Nishikant turned around on the stair step and scanned the crowd with his eyes to look for her.

' Maya, mujhe tumse kuch baat karni hai.' Bani heard the voice of her father. The fact that he called her Maya disturbed her but she didn't show it. She figured it probably had something to do with the party and followed him to a secluded corner of the hall.

' Dekho Maya. Tum mujh se nafrat karti ho mai jaanta hoon. Wajah chaahe jo bhi ho, dosh chaahe kisi ka bhi ho tum mujhse nafrat karti ho.' Mr. Dixit folded his hands in front of her. 'Mai haath jorta hoon tumhaare aage. Tum mujhse nafrat karti ho, agar meri betiyan tumhaare bare me jaan gayi aur tum unhe bata dogi ki tum mere bare me kya soochti ho to woh bhi shaayed mujhse nafrat karne lagengi aur yeh mai bardaasht nahin kar paaunga.' Bani looked at the man in front of her. In her mind she had several things to say to him, to tell him that she wasn't out to make his children hate him but her voice didn't help her. She stayed mum even though she didn't want to.

Mr. Dixit continued. ' Mai haath jorta hoon tumhaare aage. Mere liye tumhaare zindagi me koi jagaah nahin hai to mere bacchon ke kareeb mat aao Maya. I request you, door raho unse.' Bani lowered her eyes. His message was load and clear. His voice didn't have a hint of a request. Bani nodded and saw Mr. Dixit walk away.

Bani stood in the dark corner thinking. What did she do to deserve this? Just because she helped Rano? Was that it?
Bani looked around in the crowd. She looked for something that could make her feel better. She saw Jai and his family. Ranveer, Anu and Sahil were dancing. When they saw her they waved at her and signaled to her to come over and joined them. Bani waved back and indicated that she would join them later. Mausi, Jigyasa and Aditya were standing with Jai and looking at the dancing crowd. Bani decided to step out for a while to get some fresh air and think about something else before she would join them because they would be able to see that something was wrong. Bani walked out of the hall to the parking area where the music from the hall didn't sound that load. Her father's words echoed in her mind. Rano's smiling face flashed before her eyes. Maybe the stress of the last few days, the weight of her emotions or the cold got to her when she started to shiver and everything turned black for a moment.

Jai followed Bani out of the hall when he saw her leave. Managing to make his way through the crowd he came out to see her lying on the parking lot before the drunk driver crushed her under his car, in an attempt to get our of his parking space, oblivious to the unconscious woman behind his vehicle. The only thing Jai could see was a pool of blood and his Bani now struggling to keep her eyes open when he ran towards her and bend down, holding her in his arms. She smiled at him when she recognized his face. His name left her lips in a faint whipser ' Jai' her eyes welled up when she whispered 'Jai……papa' and closed her eyes.

Ranjana, I don't think when Jai comes to now about Bani's state of mind before the accident he will ever forgive, Banis "So called" father...I disliked him for his actions but now I hate him,how could blame Bani and threat her to stay away from Rano?? I wish Rano and Pia come to know about Bani parents, I don't have hopes for Pia but Rano would understand Bani state then.... His so sellfish and his wife is also supporting him so much ... it's just a thought that his daughters come to know about Bani past.... continue soon, and it was a wonderful update with JB lil moments....I love it!!!