Moonsoon Series -Before the Rains/Dhani/p61 Nov 21 - Page 33

cute story

First of all thanks a lot Divan, i am on top of the world, for making an index on the first page. You are so sweet, i will read all the stories that i may have missed before.

Read the last two stories just now, too cute. Me and my cousin had once got stuck in a landslide in Nainital, and had to spend the whole night waiting for rescue but Jai Walia didnot came to rescue us 😭as he did in your story.

take care and keep writing.

Shweta

A loud thunder boomed across the expanse of the sky outside as sheets of rain beat down on the sprawling city of Hyderabad. It gingerly announced its presence to those who would dare ignore it. However, the thunder bore no resemblance to the storm that was raging inside the court house in Court room 7. The pin drop silence against the backdrop of the repeated pounding of the rain on the roof top was chilling.

It was the icy look in her eyes that more than chilled him to the bones. He was practically immobilized by it. Never in all the time he had known her had he seen her this chilling. This hard...this unyielding. Her lips curled upwards in an evil grin as she asked the same question she had asked not more than fifteen seconds ago....for effect, he thought absently.

"Isn't that so Mr. Walia?" she repeated, patiently crossing her arms across her chest for emphasis.

He couldn't answer the question at all, for in all her accusations, she had been spot on. He had had those women in his life, they had shared his bed and he had broken up with them. She was right when she accused him of coming here to try to get a child he had no family framework to train in any way that would impact that child positively. His life was not the best environment in which to raise a child. He looked at the woman who had once worn a ring in his name...the woman who had once worn sindoor and bangles and fasted for his wellbeing. She wasn't the same woman...this woman was cold, hard and....vindictive. How she had garnered all that information in one short week was beyond him. But then again, you didn't get to be the most respected family lawyer in all of Hyderabad by twiddling your thumbs now did you?

He looked at her, Advocate Bani Dixit. Still the picture of perfection at thirty four. He looked out to the front row behind her at his son...Rohan. The boy actually felt bad for him and his situation. The boy had warned him not to go up against Bani as she would rip him to shreds, but he had thought he was dealing with the same old Bani Walia he had known. Now he knew different.

"Mr. Walia?" the Judge prompted.

He looked back at the Judge whom it seemed was also feeling bad for him, to have his life put on trial like this. And that too by his ex-wife!!!Really, hell hath no fury as a woman scorned. What could he say to the Judge? She was right after all. He fell silent. Even his lawyer Tarun had failed him as he couldn't even get a word in edgewise around the bullets Bani had thrown, knowing full well that every piece she presented was legally admissible and he couldn't very well object to their admissibility. He rubbed his eyes in confusion.

The Judge sighed and called both Bani and Tarun to side bar. He whispered to them for a bit and then raised his voice to address the only other two occupants of the courtroom, seeing as this was a child custody case and the publicity of this trial could cause harm to the child in question.

"The Court will adjourn for thirty minutes. I will see you all back in Court in a few minutes. I will rise."

He got up and they all got to their feet until he was gone. Bani busied herself packing her things while he stood helpless, watching her. Their son came up and took her bag from her and they exited to an empty office. Once they were in, she grabbed on to the side of the table to steady herself. Rohan, knowing full well what hurt she was going through just came and hugged her. In spite of it all, her shoulders shook as tears flowed from her eyes. Outside, the thunder boomed ominously as if to say it understood her pain.

"It's alright Ma," he said with all the maturity of a twenty year old as opposed to his fourteen years. He was quite grown for his age as people often thought he was older. He already stood at five feet nine inches and was quite brawny. Spitting image of his father with the trade mark Walia good looks. This whole saga had began a month ago with a picture of he and Bani in a glamour magazine where there was a three page spread of the birthday party thrown by her colleagues to mark her thirty fourth birthday. He had given the toast and they had several pictures in them with the caption reading 'Bani Dixit and her son Rohan'.

Jai had come pounding on his mother's door a few days after that and one day she had come home so distraught and after forcing her a few times, she opened up and told him exactly what had been bothering her. He had been bowled over to discover that Jai Walia...the Jai Walia was indeed his father. He had suspected when he had heard that his mother had been married to the man but she never really spoke about him and when she referred to him, there was none of the bitterness that he saw, naked and pure today. None of the hatred and anger. He knew his mother well enough, but he had to admit this was a part of her he had never seen.

As soon as she calmed down, there was a knock on the door. He went to open it as she arranged herself, ready for whatever was coming through the door. It was Tarun. Bani raised her chin in readiness for what he had to say, looking down her nose at him. Tarun was a fairly nice guy, but being Jai Walia's lawyer made him the enemy and she was not about to make nice with the enemy.

"How may I help you Tarun?" she asked.

"Could you excuse us?" he said to Rohan.

"No need," Bani informed him gingerly, "Whatever you have to say to me you can say in front of my son. He is the reason you're both here after all."

"Ma," Rohan said softly and that got her attention, "It's okay. I'll be outside."

"Are you sure?" she asked.

He nodded and exited. He found his father in the hallway. He gave him a weak smile and sat beside him, staring ahead like he was about to give words of wisdom to his father.

"I hate to say I told you so, but I did warn you," he began, "She's like a shark in there."

Jai gave a dry chuckle, "Now I know better."

"Look, this is as strange for me as it is for you. I mean...you're my father...that hasn't even sunk in yet, but to put her on the defensive was wrong."

Jai nodded like a properly reprimanded person.

"I'll talk to her," he continued, "She won't be too mad after she wins this case."

They shared a small laugh, and like a truly old man, he got to his feet and patted Jai on the back, "It'll be alright. I promise."

"From your lips to God's ears," he said weakly, but with a smile nonetheless.

He walked back down to the office and knocked before opening to hear the last words his mother was saying to Tarun.

"You will inform your client that this is a fight to the finish. He started it but I will finish it. That's all I have to say to you."

Tarun looked helplessly at her and after a glance at Rohan, walked out. Rohan looked at his mother and saw the tired lines on her face. He had to do it now else she would gather more steam and well, with him, her word was final too.

"Ma, I need to talk to you."

She looked up and nodded slowly, "I know my love. You don't have to say it."

She looked at him now, the sheen of tears still clear in her eyes. After all she had given birth to him, she knew him like the back of her hand.

"I went too far, I agree. But he wants to take my baby away from me."

He came and pulled up the chair opposite her and sat down, taking her hands in his, "Even you know...deep down inside, even you know that's not true."

She nodded as the tears began to fall again. This time she made no effort to be strong. This case had truly sapped her energy.

"Ma, I never asked you one day who my father really was. When you refused to talk about him, I didn't push you. I could have tried to find out. I could have gone behind your back...but I didn't."

"I know," she sniffed, knowing exactly where this was going but hoping against hope that he didn't say it.

"Ma, I do have the right to know who my father is. And now that he's here...sure he did wrong by dragging you to court, but see it from his point of view. He didn't know about me...and now that he does, he just wants to know me. Surely you won't deny me that."

Bani shook her head, the pain glazing her eyes over, " He'll take you away, like everything in my life he'll take you away!"

"Not if I have anything to say about it,"Rohan said.

"Oh my child, you don't understand. The law is the law, and if the court says you have to stay with him, then where would I be?"

"We both know that's not what the court will say. Not after all that?!" he teased her.

She at least smiled, shaking her head in acknowledgement of her own prowess, giving herself a pat on the back.

"Please Ma,2 he squeezed her hands, "Just this once, let me at least get to know the other side of my family. Just this once."

Bani looked at her son. It was times like this she hated the fact that he was more grown up than his fourteen years of age. But then he was the one she woke up to everyday, the one she had said good night to last for the last fourteen years, the one she confided in even when he was too young to understand the problems of grown ups and gave the most childish answers which always made her laugh. How could she now be selfish and not let him have this one thing that she knew he deserved to have?

She ran her hands over his head, ruffling his hair, "How can I say no when you put it like that?2 she asked, "I'll think about it. But please, not right now. It's too much to process."

He smiled in understanding and hugged her tight, "God did right by me, giving me a mother like you."

Her heart swelled with pride at his simple but profound statement. She truly was a lucky woman.

The Judge of course had ruled in her favour, stating that though Mr. Walia was capable of providing financially for the child, there was no family framework and no stable woman in Jai's life who could mother the boy. He was raised by one woman and to move him would be too unsettling, so the status quo remained, subject to review if any progress was made. He therefore found in favour of the defendant, Miss Bani Dixit.

She knew she ought to be happy but there was no joy in her victory. After the Judge exited, she gave Tarun a dismissive look and he as if understanding her, walked away from the defeated Jai who sat, chin resting on his palm.

"Jai."

As if pulled from a deep shock, he turned blank eyes on her and said absolutely nothing for a few seconds. When he spoke, his voice was alien to him, and Bani admitted, to her also.

"Congratulations Miss Dixit. I really underestimated you," he said with a dry, weary smile.

She didn't know how to respond to that so she decided to ignore it, "It seems you have an angel watching over you Jai."

He stared at her confused.

"It seems in spite of my efforts to keep you away from my son, the fates will not hear of it," she looked him straight in the eye, "Rohan thinks he should get to know your side of the family."

For the first time since this ordeal, hope stirred in his eyes and Bani almost felt it was for real.

"He wants to get to know you. I think it's only fair considering the circumstances, don't you?" she asked, a clear taunt in her voice.

He got to his feet, left speechless by what he had just heard. Did she say Rohan wanted to get to know the rest of his family? The boy had actually succeeded in getting her to release her iron grip?

"I'll be in touch with you to let you know when it will be convenient for him to come over to Mumbai."

So saying, she turned and began to walk away, but stopped when she heard her name, "Bani."

After a moment's apuse she heard a rather weak but relieved, "Thank you."

She looked over her shoulder and in all honesty, didn't know what to say, so she just turned and walked out.

Three weeks later, Rohan had finished with school and packed all his stuff for the month long vacation at Mumbai with the Walias as he referred to them, joking ly. He tried not to show his excitement for her sake but Bani knew he was bursting at the seams. She had called Jai to let him know they would be coming in during the weekend. For the first time in long years, she set foot in Mumbai. It brought back feelings of dj vu and a bit of nostalgia, as for all the pain and hurt and humiliation, she had had some wonderful times here...most of them, with him.

They had arrived Walia Mansion and Rohan, seeing how tense she got had to take her hands and reassure her. However, with the first person that emerged from the door, it all died away.#

"Saahil!" she exclaimed and bounded up the stairs to hug the man, truly happy to see him.

This was the man who had been her support in those days when everyone was against her. He had been the one to go against everyone for her sake. He looked really well. After exchanging niceties, he teased her about the state she had put his brother in after he returned from Hyderabad. All the man did was mope and stare.

They entered the house and there stood Jai, Jigyasa, Aditya, Uday and Krishna Walia, Maasi and ever present Tony. It was amazing that he was still here! It was awkward as no one knew what to say and Bani was definitely not trying to ease anyone's discomfort, but they were saved by the little young boy who bounded up to Rohan.

"Hello Uncle!" he said brightly.

"Hello sport!" Rohan bent and scooped the little boy up.

He squealed and kicked excitedly, and asked when he settled down, "Who are you?"

A deathly silence fell over everyone gathered, and Rohanafter a glance at all of them said to the little boy, "You know Jai Mama?"

"Yes," the boy said.

"Apparently he's my father," he winked at Jai, "And that makes me your cousin."

" Really? Yay!!!" the boy exclaimed.

Saahil came forward, "Baadmash! This is Ranveer, my son."

Bani nodded in appreciation, "I see you've been keeping busy."

Rohan being his jovial self had diffused the tension in the air when he began his rounds of greetings, first of all ribbing his father, taking the blessings of all the elders and finally asking about food as he was hungry. Everyone had laughed and were obviously impressed with the young man. Saahil was the only one permitted to talk to Bani as per her treatment of everyone else. Jigyasa had tried when she commented on how well Bani looked, but then a scathing reply as to how she had expected her to look had set the tone for everyone else. She was not one to be spoken to as she had not come to make friends.

She saw to her joy that Saahil had not married that hateful Arushi who had been instrumental in helping Jigyasa break up her marriage to Jai with the allegations that she had cheated on him with her brother Daksh, all the while knowing the truth that it was not Bani in the picture, but a girl who had looked shockingly like her that anyone who didn't look closely could have mistaken them for the same person. Jai who had been acting up for a while, when he had seen the doctored pictures had not given her a chance to explain and had just thrown her out. She had found herself pregnant two months after that and that became her sole purpose for living.

When Daksh and Saahil by some stroke of luck had discovered what their sisters had gotten together to do, they had gone ballistic and tried in vain to search for Bani to make things right. They had returned home and really laid it on Jigyasa whom Jai had literally beaten blue black in blind rage. After that, both brothers had moved out, leaving her alone in Walia Mansion with their parents and her marriage was on the rocks. It was then that his sister had seen what it was to be left alone and suffering with no one there to help. It was there she had had an epiphany.

All this she found out later that evening when she and Saahil were in the garden talking. His beautiful wife Rano had given him the courage and heart to forgive enough to move back home where they had spent time rebuilding relationships. Jai had been the hardest of all as he had lost the most in all of this. But he was here now, and had repented everyday for the last fourteen years for his mistake. He begged her to give them a chance. She said she would try but wasn't making any promises as it was hard to see these people as anything but what they were...the people who had destroyed her life.

As much as she hated it she had to admit that she did notice some changes in the family, not that she would readily admit to it. She effectively shot down every attempt to play nice with her and when she was satisfied that they would not mistreat her son, she decided to leave the house back to Hyderabad as she still had work to do. Rohan was disappointed but he could no nothing about it. Jai on the other hand had been blindsided as he had somehow gotten used to the fact that she was in the house. He did beg her to stay but she refused. Later that afternoon, she flew back to Hyderabad where she completely threw herself into work, unable to bear the echo of silence in the house as her one prized possession was not with her. She drowned her sorrow either in work or complaining to her friend Pia who was her family Doctor.

It had been two weeks since Rohan had been away. Bani had done all she could to ignore his absence and today was no different. She had gone shopping and was on her way home when the rains hit again. She muttered under her breath as she drove, hating to be outside when it rained. In the time it took her to get from the car to the door, she was drenched from head to toe. The icy winds licked at her from all directions and she finally managed to get into the house in one piece. She had entered the bathroom to have a hot bath and didn't see the car that pulled into the driveway, neither did she hear the insistent knocks on the door. She walked into the living room towelling her hair, and started violently when she saw the huge figure standing in the foyer, looking at her.

"You?!" she exclaimed in shocked relief, "What are you doing here?!"

"If you had taken the time to answer the door you would already know by now," Jai said, his eyes reprimanding her, "And do you always leave the door unlocked? Anyone could have walked in you know."

"That anyone being you," she threw over her shoulder as she walked into the kitchen to get something to drink, knowing full well he would follow her, "What are you doing here?"

He was quiet for a while and when she turned to face him, he said quietly, "You need to come home Bani."

She was blown away by the profound impact that one statement had on her but she said instead,"I am home Jai, I'm exactly where I belong."

"No you're not and we both know it."

"I know exactly where I need to be Jai, and that is here with my son, without you in our lives to make it a living hell..."

"You need to stop it Bani, it's going to do neither one of us good. Haven't we wasted enough time with this? Please I beg you..."

"No, No!" she screamed, "You do not get to walk in here and act all mahaan. You are not the victim here Jai, it wasn't you who got tossed out in the rain because her husband accused her of cheating on him. It wasn't you who had to carry a child and bear the insults of people who didn't know you for being an unwed mother. It wasn't you who had to work odd hours to make ends meet all the while attending night school because of the child who needed to be clothed, fed and sheltered. That was me Jai! And you don't get to tell me how to feel!"

He just stared at her. This was the first he had seen her this undone and naked as to understand her pain. He just pulled her to him and hugged her tight, though she tried to fight him off, but later accepted the comfort he was offering her. She cried for all the years of pain and suffering she had had to endure because of one lie, and he let her, for he didn't know what to say that could possibly make her feel any better or worse than she felt right now. He just held her.

When she had calmed considerably, he took her to the nearest couch and sat her down, but she refused to look at him.

"Please Bani, look at me. Please," he begged as he tipped her chin upwards so she could look him in the eye, "I am not saying that I can take away all of the hurt...the pain... the humiliation...all the suffering you had to endure because of me. I cannot do that. I should die a thousand deaths for what I did if I thought it would erase all you had to go through because of me. If I thought apologizing would do it, I would apologize till kingdom come. But Bani, none of it would suffice. And so I beg you to please, if not for anything, for the boy who worships the ground you walk on...for the boy who hasn't stopped talking about you since you left...please, you need to come home."

"I can't..."

"Please my love, haven't we wasted enough time already? Can you never find it in your heart to forgive this stupid old man?"

Hearing the pain in his voice was a sound she recognised for all the years she had held it in and bottled it up, keeping the lid on tight so her son didn't see it. But she saw it in his eyes now...perhaps he had in his own way been punished for what he did to her. She couldn't think very straight right now as all she had known to do over the years was hate and despise them...and now, she didn't even understand herself.

"Please Bani, we need you," he begged, and she watched him swallow hard before he spoke again, "I need you."

That seemed to do it as a fresh bout of tears began to pour from her eyes and quickly degenerated into wracking sobs that he had to told her again. The events that unfolded next were something neither one of them could explain, for hours later, he would wake up to his wife nestled against him...in her room...in her bed...fast asleep, her face, the epitome of peace at last.

TWO MONTHS LATER.............

Rohan had been worried about his mother lately as she was always tired, always falling asleep while he told her about his day and now she couldn't keep anything down. She had begged him not to but he had called Pia Aunty. She needed help and he would make sure she got it. He didn't call his father for the simple reason that his mother would literally kill him. Pia had come over and since Bani was too embarrassed to speak, Roahn had done the honours, chronicling all that had been happening to her. Pia was more than taken aback and openly stared at Bani. What was her friend not telling her.

"Bani, inside. Now!" she ordered, and once she had shut the door behind her, "How far along are you?"

Bani bowed her head in shame, "Two months."

"I'm just going to wing and guess the father is Jai," she stated, raher than asked.

Bani just buried her face in her hands, "What am I going to do now?"

Pia sat beside her and draped her hand round her friend's shoulder. She knew better than to ask for details as it was more than pbvious what had transpired between her friend and her ex-husband. She curious though, as to when!

"You're going to tell him. You're going to tell him because he deserves to know. Ans since things are that good between you two..."

The sentence trailed off as she dissolved in laughter at Bani's mortified expression, "What do I tell Rohan?"

Pia got up and opened the door, "Rohan! Come here beta, your mother has something to tell you!"

He showed up in a flash, "What? What's wrong with Ma?"

"Oh nothing my dear, it's good news actually," Pia said with mischief rife in her eyes, and laughed at Rohan's confused look, "Come on Bani, do the honours or I will."

"Rohan..." Bani began, licking her suddenly dry lips as she struggled for the best way to tell him.

"Ma, whatever it is just say it. I promise I'll understand," he beseeched her.

"Oh for heaven's sake! Rohan, your mother is pregnant okay?" Pia supplied bluntly, then went all gushy with joy, "And guess what? It's for your father!"

Rohan stared blankly at his mother for a few seconds and she looked just about ready to faint. It too him all of thirty seconds to process this and then when she almost began to cry, he spoke.

"Why you dirty old woman," he said softly with a grin, "You were sneaking around behind our backs aye?"

Bani and Pia were both stunned at his statement, then Pia smacked his head, "Baadmash! That's your mother you're talking to."

"Does Dad know?" was his next question.

Bani shook her head.

"I'll go give him a call," he jumped to his feet.

Both women shouted in panic, "Rohan!"

"Relax yaar! I'm not going to spill the beans. I just need him to come down here ASAP!"

With that he was gone and Bani just stared at the open door as she heard Rohan pick up the phone and dial.

"Pia said, "On the bright side, you don't have to do it alone this time."

Three hours later, Jai and both his parents alighted from the car and rushed to the door where Rohan was waiting for them. It amazed Rohan that in this weather, where the clouds were ready to burst open with rain and visibility was quite low, his father and grandparents had made it in record time.

"Where is she? What's happened?" Jai asked Rohan, clearly in a panic.

"Calm down Dad, nothing's happened."

"But on the phone, you said..."

"I know what I said, but you need to go in and see her now," he gave Jai a dismissive shove in the direction of the bedroom where his mother was and turned to welcome his grandparents who were equally worried.

"I think everything will work out fine this time," he said to them as they sat down, "But those two need to talk right now."

Outside, rain clouds had gathered finally burst and the rain again beat down on the roof and streets below, effectively drenching the whole city beneath. It was really wonderful out today. It took almost an hour, but finally Jai emerged from the bedroom.

"SO," Rohan questioned while rubbing his hands in glee, "How did it go?"

Jai answered by grabbing his ears while he yelped in pain, "Do you know you almost gave me a heart attack? Do you know the terrible thought that were going through my head at that point in time?"

"Hey, you should be glad I called you," he said in defense, all the while squinting in pain.

"Jai, baad kya hai?2 his father asked finally.

Jai looked at Rohan who winked happily at him, "Ma, I think you need to talk to Bani."

A bit confused, but desperate to find answers, she made her way to the room. Then Jai turned to his father.

"Well Papa, seems to me like your daughter in law is coming back home," was all he said, a happy smile breaking through his previously blank expression.

"With a new baby," Roahn added, and Jai almost wrung his neck at the look his father gave him, but then all three of them began to laugh, Uday the most relieved as he really didn't care what had happened or how, he just cared that his son would finally get all that was due him back, even if it now had another baby in the picture.

Two weeks later, Walia Mansion was done up in all the decorations due a Prince's wedding and in a somewhat quiet family affair, Jai and Bani were remarried with a few close family friends. Rohan had given away his mother seeing as he was from the bride's side.

The babies, Ganga and Krishna, both girls, were born much to the delight of their entire family. Jai had been more than elated to find that they were having twins as opposed to just one baby. Jai rushed home everyday before six as he needed to spend as much time with them as possible. He didn't want to miss a single day in their lives. It was pure joy that all was as it should be in Walia Mansion after almost fifteen years of silence.

Jai, looking down at his sleeping wife and the cot that was a few feet away from the foot of their bed where the kids slept, swore never to let another tear of sorrow fall from her eyes if it was in his power to stop it. Outside, the thunder boomed ominously as if to let him know that it had heard his promise and intended to hold him to it.

The End.