SS: Waiting for you-end-part 10/epi page 28 26-09 - Page 5

Ranju, great parts. I liked the whole way when Jai recounts his 1st meeting with Maya and the typical filmi romance that followed.

hey Ranjana!

Hi Renu....I am waiting too...for the next update...jaldi karo...

Hello everyone!!
Thanks a million for the wonderful and heartwarming responce to this story. I am posting the next update for a new friend Shafaq! Hope you will enjoy this and I also hope it isnt boring. Lots of crying here so feel free to skip it😃

The people who read it please leave a comment and silent readers, I should thank you for the amount of hits.

byebye
Ranjana
______________________

Part3

Maya was looking around in the coffee shop. She was supposed to meet Pushkar and Pia in a few minutes. Maya had already picked out a few venues for the engagement and colour schemes that would suit the engagement party. Maya was terribly nervous about meeting them today. Their parents would be coming with them to check on the proceedings and tell about the various traditions that ran in their family and that needed to be incorporated in the ceremonies. Today Maya would face her father. This was it. She had been sitting here on the same spot for over an hour trying to calm herself and be ready for the moment when she would see the man that was part of her, face to face. She had managed to make Jai go. Somehow he got to know about this meeting and he had refused to go from here until she had almost threaten him. Jai's coming closer, his attention scared her but.................at this point that was the least of her worries.

Finally that moment was there. Maya heard the bell ring, that was attached to the door notifying about any customer that came into the store. Like all the other times Maya looked up. Pushkar was holding the door. Three women followed him. The first woman she recognized easily. It was Pia. Behind her, two elderly women walked in who were probably in their forties. Pushkar and Pia waved at her. Maya stood up from her seat and welcomed her.

'Hey Maya.' Pia greeted her. 'Meet my mother-in-law, Shakuntala Shukla and this is my mom. Kiran Dixit.'
Mayas eyed were fixed at the woman who was gazing upon her, measuring every inch of her with her eyes. At the same time Maya was looking at Mrs. Dixit. A lightblue saree with a golden border adorned her figure. Long, shiny black hair was tied in a heavy bun and was resting in her neck were a Mangalsutra was resting on the front of her chest. Friendly eyes in an attractive face. A small bindi and above a red line of vermillion.
Does she know about me and mother?' Maya wondered. Pia shook her mother out of her thoughts and the lips of the woman curved into a friendly smile.
Maya wanted to shake hand like she did with all clients and relatives of clients out of nowhere she folded her hands and lowered her head. 'Namaste.'
The woman placed her hand on Mayas head and later cupped her cheek. Bohot pyaari ho.
Maya chided herself. She is just a client she remembered herself and to make the whole connection less obvious she made the same gesture at Puskhars mother and Pia's mother-in-law. She asked the ladies to take a seat first before she asked the same to Pia and Pushkar the same and then seated herself.
'I am sorry Maya, our fathers will be coming later. They had something to attend. Puskar said. Maya nodded and started to show them the various locations she had picked and ideas for the themes. While explaining and motivating her choices and asking their opinion Maya noticed that Mrs. Dixit's gaze was fixed on her. It was a friendly stare but nonetheless unnerving. Maya waited for their orders of coffee to arrive before she again rushed through her ideas and let the two mothers talk about their wishes.

Both the mothers liked the banqueting hall of two of the Walia hotels although Pushkars mother was more vocal. One for the engagement party and one for the joint sangeet and wedding reception. Pias mehndiceremony would be done one day prior to the sangeet in their house and the wedding would also take place there. Pia invited Maya to come over to their house the next day to look at the space and figure out how she was going to plan the proceedings of the wedding. Reluctantly Maya agreed. At every thought of meeting her father her heart took charge and started beating erratically. Her palms were sweaty by now. Maya had nothing more to discuss. She made an estimate of the ratings of both the halls for three ceremonies and the decorations that the mothers agreed on and Maya tried to leave as soon as possible making an excuse of another meeting she had to attend. Picking up her bag and her file she stood up when Mrs. Dixit looked her way. Kal zaroor aana.
Maya was flabbergasted and could only foolishly nod before she took a sprint at the door and made her way out. Maya descended the marble stairs in front of the shop when she noticed a car pull up along the side of the street. Two men stepped out of the backseat of the car, both in a black suit. They were laughing and talking to each other, making their way towards the shop.

It was him. He still looked the same. Handsome as ever. Only parts of his black hair turned into grey. He had wrinkles around his brown eyes that deepened with every brilliant smile he showed his companion. The same brown eyes Maya would see every morning in the mirror. His gait was still the same as she could remember.
Maya was now sure that she didn't glamorize the few memories she had of her father. He was every bit as handsome as she could remember. He was every bit as smart as she could remember. His arms looked as strong as in the picture she still had managed to save from her mother. The picture where he threw her up in the air. It were those arms that must have cradled her to sleep and protected her from the world. One thing was different though. Only his smile was more beautiful then she could remember. Maya felt a lump in her throat. Even swallowing didn't help. They were climbing the stairs now a few feet away from her. Her cheeks felt wet now. Maya touched her cheekbones to feel her own tears on her fingers.

Seeing him was like a dream. It was like everything around her stopped and only he was there. He was so close, she wanted to reach out her hand and touch him. He would look at her and recognize her immediately. She was his blood, a part of him after all. He would hug her and Maya would burst into tears when her cheek would connect to his shoulder whispering 'Papa'. He would kiss the top of her head and then her cheeks. He would kiss her tears away like she could remember he did when she fell and he would hug her again and stroke her hair until she stopped crying.
Nothing else would be necessary. No explanations, no words, no regrets at all. Maya would be her papas Bani again and she would have her family, a father, sisters and a mother.

The honking of a car shook Maya out of her reverie and suddenly saw her father approach her. He was standing practically in front of her but was engaged in a conversation with his companion. He hadn't seen Maya stand there in the middle of the stairs. He bumped into her, mumbled an apology and was waiting for her to move when he looked at the person he bumped into.

Nishikant Dixit saw a tearstained face. A face that reminded him of someone he met 28 years ago. Only the eyes were different. She had green eyes and the girl in front of him had the same brown eyes with a flick of gold like his daughters had. His eyes. She was looking at him. could it be that..........?????????? there was no doubt about it, there was no one in this world that could look so much like her and like himself. Nishikant opened one of his fists he had clenched when he was looking at her. His heart raced in anxiety, in joy, in pain and in guilt. His hand had a mind of it's own and reached out to touch her, just once. Suddenly his friend and the future father-in-law of his daughter nudged him. 'Chalo na yaar, kya kar rahe ho?' Nishikant nodded, look at her one final time and walked past her with his friend and made his way inside the shop. He didn't have the courage to look back, just one time. Had he done that he would have seen the heartbroken girl run away as fast as her feet could carry her.
*****************

Maya made herself as small as possible by curling herself up in her bed. She tried to vanish in the mattress and in the blankets on top of her. Her tears never really stopped flowing today. Somehow she had managed to go back to the office and do some work without meeting people. Maya didn't know how but finally it was five o'clock and she left the building only to meet Jai on her way out. His constant questioning about her meeting irritated her and she snapped at him, told him to mind his own business and them unceremoniously burst into tears again. She pushed him away and ran home. Her pillow was soaked by now.

After several hours she fell in a disturbed sleep and she woke up when the first ray of the sun fell on her face.

Jai heard a knock on the door and yelled a frustrated 'come in!' in that direction.

His work seemed to pile up every second and he couldn't do anything about it then work continuously. Bani seemed to be distancing more then she had. Not that she was close to him at all but this was just the limit. Be it for the friendship they had shared before, at least she could tell him what bothered her but she chose to run away. Again. Jai was rubbing his temple in frustration when he heard the sound of heels on the wooden floor. He knew who it was he didn't need his eyes to be aware of her presence. Jai was angry at her and chose not to acknowledge her. He continues his work. Even she must have know by now that this was the repercussion of her behaviour yesterday.
'I'm sorry Sir.'

Jai kept looking at his file. 'Oh don't be. Who am I to apologize to Ms. Dixit? Just make sure you do your job well.'

'I am really sorry.' She said again.
'There is no need to feel sorry. You were right and I am minding my own business. Is there anything else you have to discuss Ms. Dixit. You see I would like to start minding my own business and I would like for you to continue you work!'
'Yes Sir.' She nodded. 'I just have one thing to note. The Shukla-Dixit weddingparty chose our Babylon-hall and the Peacock-room for the engagement and sangeet-reception. I need your permission to contact both the hotel managers. I have an appointment with the clients tonight at their house where I'll be discussing the other details. And as you are paying I also need your permission for the decorators and caterers.'
'I'll let my secretary notify the bank and the hotel managers. I hope that will be all Ms. Dixit.'
'Yes sir. Thank you and good day sir.'
Jai heard the heels on the wooden floor again only this time the sound faded away.

******************

'Here we can have some of the flower setups and I think this will be nice to construct the mandap. There is enough room in the garden. We can make a tent-like construction for any possible bad weather.' Bobby, Maya's colleague pointed out. He had helped her with other weddings and was very good in the decorating aspect of weddings. Maya just nodded along. She was aware of his presence in the house. Maya had met his other daughter Rano, a sweet girl quite shy but very smart. Mrs. Dixit was constantly hovering around her guests (Pushkar's parents, brother and sister-in-law came along) with trays of drinks and snacks, but with Maya she kept her distance a bit. An occasional unconfident but well-meant smile and a gesture would come Maya's way. Pia and Pushkar would tag along with Maya and Bobby to see what would happen and occasionally give their approval or disapproval. Maya looked up to the terrace where the elders were sitting. He was looking her way but had averted his eyes now and looked interested now in what Pushkar's brother was saying. A mobile was ringing, Pushkar's brother walked away and later his father walked away to. Only the women were sitting on the terrace now along with Nishikant Dixit. Bobby had to leave and Maya wanted to leave along with him. She didn't want to stay a minute longer in this house then necessary.
Pia led Maya and Bobby to the terrace though the living room. Maya looked at the wall next to her. Faces of the family members were looking her way. It looked liked the owners of the house had photographed every moment of their daughters' life. From the first steps to the first day of school to the holidays, everything was recorded and had a place in this perfect house of this perfect family.

Maya somehow managed to make her way to the terrace. She took leave from the people there without looking at the owner of the house. Bobby left first while Maya gathered her stuff and walked out of the door when she heard a faint whisper call her.
'Bani!'
Maya turned around. Her father was standing in the doorway.
'It's Maya, Sir.'

Mr. Dixit shook his head. 'You are my Bani.'

'I don't think so, Sir.'
Mr. Dixit stepped forward and cupped her face. 'Kitni bari hogayi hai meri bacchi. Tu theek to hai na?'

She couldn't contain her emotions. Maya took his hand and pressed it to her lips.

'I missed you so much papa. Aap mujhe chor kar kyun chale gaye?' she whispered time to time again. 'Mujhe chor ke kyun chale gaye? Mai itni buri thi kya?' The tears falling from Maya's eyes wet Nishikant's fingers.

'Nahin meri bacchii, tu bahot acchi hai.'

'Ab mujhe chor ke to nahin jaayenge? Mai bahot akeli hoon papa. Mujhe apne paas rehne denge na?'

Nishikant's fingers turned limp in Maya's hand.
'I promised her I wont meet you.'
Maya let his hand go. ' Why?'
'She told me not to meet you.'
'aur aapne maanliya?'
Nishikant shook his head. ' You wont understand. I couldn't do anything else. Usne mujhse yeh shart rakkhi thi ki mai tumse kabhi bhi milunga nahin.'
'You could have fought for me.' Maya answered. 'Aap ki beti thi mai. Court, lawyers sab the. There is no power in this world that could have stopped you from meeting me.'

'It wasn't worth such a fight.' Nishikant tried his longlost daughter understand.

She lowered her eyes. 'You mean I wasn't worth the fight.'
Again Nishikant vigorously shook his head. 'No, mere kehne......' but she didn't let him finish his sentence.
'Aap chorkar kyun chale gaye the?'
' She was cheating on me.' He sighed.
Maya appeared least shocked. She already knew that but that wasn't an excuse for neglecting his daughter. 'Maine yeh nahin poocha ki aap unko kyun chorkar chale gaye. Maine yeh poocha ki aap mujhe kyun chorkar chale gaye. Meri galati kya thi?ekbaar murkar bhi nahin dekha?' With every question her voice cracked more. 'Yeh jaanne ki koshish nahin ki ki mai kahan hoon, kaisi hoon?'
Nishikant lowered his eyes. Jai was wrong, he never tried to look for her or tried to approach her.

'she is dead, cancer.' Maya said while trying her level best not to break down in front of this man. Nishikant looked at his daughter. The loneliness was noticeable in her eyes, her face was glum. She turned her back on him and was ready to walk away before he would see her turn weak.
Nishikant made one last attempt to stop her. ' Bani.' He called out to her.
Maya turned around and looked at that man to whom she couldn't relate anymore. He wasn't her papa anymore.
'It's Maya Sir.'
at the same time she heard a voice call him.
'Aap jaaye, aap ki family aap ka intezaar kar rahi hai.'
Pia appeared in the hallway. Maya saw her and looked at her client's father. She took out a paper from her file with a list of examples of mandaps. As cool and composed as she could be Maya handed it to him.
'I hope you will find our services satisfactory, Sir.' And she turned around and walked away. To Pia is would appear like they were talking about the wedding.

Blinded by tears Maya ran towards the main road through the trees that separated the road from the courtyard of the house. The busy road was ahead of her and she ran on it, not bothering to avoid the cars. She slowed down after a while and wandered aimlessly on the road. Cars were honking around her trying to avoid her until one driver in a hurry to reach his destination hit her. Maya fell back, her files fell on the ground. She tried to pick them up, her hands trembled and she started crying on the middle of the road in front of people who didn't knew her. The driver stepped out of the car and saw his destination sitting on the dirty floor. He thanked his friend who informed him that she was at the Dixit's residence when he called him. Jai hurried and dropped himself next to her. She was trying to pick up her things but kept dropping it too. Jai tapped her lightly on her shoulder. Completely panicked his Bani turned around and hugged him when she saw a familiar face. Jai stroke her hair while she cried.

'Please take me home.' she begged him.

Jai helped her on her feet, grabbed her stuff and helped her sit in the car. After which he drove away.

brilliant parts!!!!! amazing story...............looking forward to see where it goes now............

i can't believe bani's dad..........ugh!!!!

pls cont sooon!

so her dad never even bothered to look for her????aw jai is here! lovely part

Hi Ranjana, ... Oh that was a very sad update ... poor Bani ... Just like KS she cried through out the update ... poor girl... mother cheated on her father and she was punished for it ... her mom was terrible didn't allow Nishikant to be with his daughter ... wonder what kept Nishikant away from Bani 🤔 ... he moved on in his life and never looked back at his daughter ... terrible parents ... but sure hope Jai will be able to lessen some of Bani's pain as well as loneliness 😳 do cont soon... 😃 ..

excellent part.....

It was good how bani gave back to her father . how could he leave his daughter and be happy without his new wife and their daughter. He is making preparation for his 2nd daughter marriage and never even gave a thought whether his first daughter is married or not.

Waiting for the next part. cont soonnnn...............

Wow..Wow...Wow. Really heart wrenching emotional part. Poor Bani having to meet her father and then asking him why he left her...I feel for Bani...he could have fought for her, unless there is other secret he is holding back.

And Jai...I guess he wants to help and she refuses and it hurts...this is becoming really beautiful story....👏

That was an excellent part - it was so emotional. I really felt for Bani.