Thanks everyone for your encouragement! Im posting next part.. dont expect drama.. all mush and flush.. its a very simple part though :)
Big thanks to popeye :) will miss u next week!
I wont be in town all of next week.. so update wont be for a little bit.. sorry! I didnt write anything ahead of time.
Part 104b
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Sometime later, she awoke, and realized she was in the nursery with a blanket around her. Neha was humming a tuneless song, playing with her haathi and her teddy bear.
Bani got out of her chair, giving Neha a surprised look. "Look who is up!" She lifted Neha up and cuddled her for a minute. "Lets go find Papa…" She set Neha down, as she was getting to heavy for Bani to lift and she waddled off to find her Papa.
Neha made her way into his study, heading straight for his desk. Jai was intently looking at his laptop, when he felt his chair move and he looked down to see Neha reaching for him.
"Hey, you're up!" He lifted Neha to his lap and she began banging on his keyboard, which he quickly pushed away.
"We both are…" Bani said as she entered the room watching Neha.
Jai set Neha down, then pulled Bani to his lap. "I hope you are rested for tonight…"
"Nea up!" Neha pouted, as she reached for Jai.
Bani wanted to laugh, but Jai looked at his little girl surprised. "Its Mamas Birthday, remember? Can Mama sit with Papa today?"
"No Nea!" She said trying to climb up too. Bani gave in and let Neha sit down, finding it adorable how possessive she was of Jai.
"So what is the plan for tonight…?" Bani asked, wondering if he would divulge the plans.
Jai smiled at her and sat back. "Nice try, Mrs. Walia…."
She hit his chest lightly. He pretended to be hurt, but with a smile on his face.
***
Later in the evening, Bani was getting dressed in her new gifted suit from Jigyasa and Aditya. Jai walked into the room and stopped. The pale yellow of the chiffon made her glow, as it was she had the new mother glow radiating from her porcelin skin.
"Something wrong?" Bani asked, as she saw his eyes resting on her. He couldn't find any words, and just shook his head, then walked towards his drawer.
"Bani…" He said softly. She walked towards him, his eyes were lowered.
"Whats wrong? Are you feeling ok…?" She touched his cheek softly. He raised his eyes and smiled tenderly.
"Happy Birthday…" He held out a small blue velvet box.
"Whats this?" She looked at the box. He opened it for her, revealing diamond chandelier earrings.
"They're for you…"
"They're beautiful, but…" She hesitated.
"But? If you don't like them, you know you can tell me," he insisted.
"No, I love them.. but its too much. I can't accept something so-"
Jai quieted her down with his finger against her lips. "Nonsense. Nothing is too good for you. I could give you the world, and it still wouldn't be enough…"
He turned her around standing behind her while they faced the mirror. Taking one of the earrings, he held it up next to her ear. "It looks perfect." He kissed her shoulder and Bani felt her cheeks warm.
She put on the earrings, while Jai just watched her, mesmerized. "So how old is my wife today?"
Bani smiled. "You don't ask a lady her age…"
"Not even my own wife?"
She smiled and shook her head.
"So you mean, you could be double my age, and I wont know…" He said standing behind her.
She turned around putting her hands on her hips, and looked up with a mock angry look on her face.
Instead of acting scared, Jai couldn't help snickering. He couldn't help it as she looked adorable because she was shorter than he and with a bit of a pregnant belly.
"Whats so funny?"
"Not funny.. cute." He said kissing her nose.
"What?"
"You." He brought her into his arms. "Ready?"
She nodded and he held her hand, kissing her palm before leading her out of the room.
***
Jai covered her eyes with his hand as he lead her to the garden. She could hear faint whispers, but wasn't sure what was going on. He finally moved his hand and she opened her eyes slowly, in awe of what she saw.
There were white silk tents set up in the garden, sheer enough to see the twinkling stars. They were surrounded by candles and flowers, and the gentle breeze making the silky curtains flow along with them.
The family stood with smiles on their faces, along with Nattu and Purva. The moonlight made the white tents glow, and they walked together with smiles on their faces.
"Mama!" Neha ran to Bani hugging her legs. Bani's eyes watered and Jai looked at her curiously.
"You aren't going to cry again, are you?" He teased.
She stopped her tears from falling and shook her head, hoping he hadn't noticed her eyes watering.
"Happy Birthday, Bani!"
She turned around to see Anu and Rohit, along with a familiar little girl hiding behind Rohit's leg peeking out.
"Anu?!" Bani hugged her friend, whom she hadn't seen in so many months.
Anu stepped back smiling. "Look at you, Bani… you are simply glowing. We are so happy for you two! We're so excited that Neha is going to be a big sister soon!"
She blushed and then greeted Rohit.
"Neha, look who is here to see you…" Jai walked with Neha towards them. "Remember Nihita?"
Neha hid behind Jai, then peeked out on the side looking at the girl in front of her. "Tell her your name, sweetheart…"
She looked up at her Papa, "Nea!"
"And what is your name?" Jai said poking Nihita in the tummy.
She ran behind Anu, shyly hiding her smile. "Tell Jai Uncle your name…"
"Nita!" She squealed.
"I remember you… " Bani said smiling at Nihita.
"Paani!" Nihita pointed to Bani with a grin.
"Mama!" Neha corrected her. "Ish Mama!"
"Neha, don't you remember Nihita?"
Neha looked blankly at Nihita. "Why don't you give Nihita a balloon?" Jai said finding a red balloon for her.
"Boon!" Neha pointed.
Nihita giggled and pointed at the balloon. "Ooh!"
"Give it to Nihita…" Jai urged his little girl.
Neha hugged the red balloon and waddled to Nihita standing right in front of her. She looked at her Papa and then handed it to Nihita, but the balloon flew away.
"Uh-Oh!" Nihita said.
Neha looked surprised. "Boon!" She called after it. "Boon no!"
Nihita laughed. "Bye!" She waved to the sky. "Faaneee" She said looking at Anu.
Jai looked at her quizzically, until Anu explained. "She means funny…"
Neha was about to cry, and looked at Nihita laughing. She just watched her, then slowly a smile formed on her own face and they began laughing together. Jai quickly brought two more balloons, giving them each one, and they began jumping around with the balloons with them.
They were happily playing with each other, and Masi offered to watch the two little angels while they enjoyed the small gathering.
Dinner was soon served, and everyone began to eat. Bani took a few bites of her food, looking only half interested in the delectable dishes in front of her.
"What happened? Is the food not ok?" Jai asked. He spent a long time deciding what to have prepared for her birthday, choosing her most favorite dishes.
"The food is wonderful…. Its just…" She stopped. Everyone was watching her curiously.
"Just…." He said slowly.
"I want to eat something else…" She whispered.
"Something else.. ok… Such as?"
Nervous that everyone was waiting for her answer, she shook her head and picked up her spoon. "This is fine… Its quite tasty, actually."
"Bani…" Jai said in a tone of finality. "What do you feel like having?"
"French fries," Bani said meekly, setting down her spoon.
Jai looked on the table filled of gourmet dishes, then at his wife. "You mean instead of all this… you want French fries."
Bani nodded. She heard everyone laughing to themselves, making her turn red in the face.
"Ok.. seems doable. Tony!" Jai called out. Everyone snickered as Jai gave into Bani, without even questioning why the change of heart. After letting Tony know of his wifes request, he looked at his wife with a content smile. "Anything else?"
Bani thought for a moment, then was about to speak, but she stopped herself and shook her head.
"Bani…" Jai repeated himself.
"Chow-mein," she admitted.
"You mean like Chinese noodles?"
Bani nodded.
Looking at his wife strangely, he simply nodded with an awkward look in his face. "Tony!"
***
Sometime after dinner, everyone sat around relishing the warm night and content with the sounds of the children playing. Bani sat with Purva, Anu, Rano and Jigyasa while Masi watched the kids run around. The men sat together talking business, and the women didn't feel like chatting with them about the same.
Anu saw Nihita yawning, then turned to Bani. "I think someone is getting sleepy. I had better take her home…"
She went and held Nihita's hand. "Say 'bye' to Neha!"
"No!" Neha cried out and hugged Nihita. "Pay Nea!"
Bani got up and walked to them, bending as much as she good. "Neha, Nihita has to go to her Mama and Papa, right?"
"Ish Mama!" She pointed to Bani, who in turn laughed.
"Peeeez!" Neha said after a moment. Bani laughed, more at herself than at Neha, for teaching her the word 'please'.
"Silly girl…" Slowly, Bani picked Neha up, who was whimpering, and turned to Anu. "I think shes tired as well…"
"Give her to me, Bani… I will take her upstairs. I am quite tired as well, so I will just keep her with me…" Masi took Neha from her, and they waved bye to Nihita who was leaving with Rohit.
The rest of the family decided to head in for a quick nightcap before the end of the night. Jai stayed back out in the garden with Bani while everyone walked in.
"Why are we out here?"
Jai simply smiled at her when suddenly soft music began playing and Jai walked up to her and held his hand out. "May I?"
A warm feeling rushed through Bani. She nodded and Jai brought her into his arms, his hands caressing the small of her back as they swayed softly.
"Did I ever tell you how lucky I am to have you?" He whispered to her. Bani responded by wrapping her arms around his neck, feeling his warm cheeks against hers.
Bani pulled herself back a bit, feeling a little shy. "They must be waiting for us…"
"No…" He pulled her back into his arms. "They know we are out here…" He looked down at her, her eyes were dancing. She tried to look at him without blushing, but it was obvious it wasn't working. "I didn't know happiness till I met you…" He whispered. She tried to hide her smile, and he laughed to himself.
"Did you wish for anything?"
"I did.. but I almost have everything I want."
"Why almost?"
Bani looked down. "I just hope he or she comes into this world safe and healthy.."
Just then, Bani froze taking in a sharp breath. She looked at Jai who was not sure of what had just happened. A smile crept up on her face and her eyes watered.
"Why are you crying again?" Jai asked, wiping her tears away.
"Feel…." She moved his hand and rested it on her stomach, with hers on top. He looked down at his wife. She bit her lip in anticipation. And then he felt it. He felt his child.
"Was that…"
"Yeah.. I think so…" Her voice quivered, but she wasn't scared. She couldn't believe it was true.
They stood there in silence for sometime, waiting to feel it again. After feeling it faintly again, Jai smiled at his wife. His own eyes were moist, but he didn't want to let the tears fall.
"Well you know what was, don't you?" He broke the silence.
"What?"
"Junior was wishing mama a very very happy birthday!" Jai said cheerfully. Bani giggled and he pulled her into his arms. "I hope you had a good birthday."
"The best, Jai…." She pulled back and looked at him. "It was the best birthday I have ever had…"
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Happy reading!
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
