FF - A Little Space, Epilogue page 44 - Page 14

Bani felt guilty, she cursed Pia, she hated playing with emotions, she picked up Riya and went towards her room, on the way she came face to face with Jigyasa, who turned her face away on seeing her but Bani saw under her anger, Jigyasa was trying to hide her hurt too….

++++

Jai opened the main door with his key, as he walked he switching off the lights one by one and stepped inside the kitchen, no matter however late he comes he has home cooked food, to keep fit in his erratic lifestyle that is the one of the mantra he followed…as he walked into the kitchen he found Bani standing near the microwave, must heating something for her kid, he thought instead he found Bani taking out the bowls, arranging them on a plate and putting the plate on the kitchen table, the end where he sits and has his food normally…..

Jai frowned a bit, looked up to see Bani making rotis on the gas, as he sat down she brought the hot phulkas….as Jai ate he saw Bani sitting at the other end reading a book…..

Jai cleared his voice, thank you Pia for the dinner but you do not have to remain awaken for me as I am used to this kind of lifestyle, my mother taught me that I should not inconvenience others and learn to fend for myself incase I cannot maintain house timings….

Bani looked up, well Mr Walia my mother always waited up till the last member of the house was back….we had our fights but she said she could sleep more peacefully she claimed, anyway since I was up and I wanted to have a word with you….

At this hour, it is nearly one….he stated pointing at his watch….

Well throughout the day I hardly get to see you…..

Are you complaining madam like a true wife now….

No Mr Walia, I know my status by now, all I wanted to tell you to think once again your decision, you wanted Riya for the family in turn you married me so that I do not run away with Riya after getting an settlement from your end…..well Mr Walia I feel we need to review our deal once again……

In what manner…..

Bani narrated her conversations with Aditya and Jigyasa's un-acceptance of her….Mr Walia, I feel some way or the other both your sister and brother-in-law see me as Ranveer's widow, I mean I hope you are getting me, I feel me staying in this house reminds them more of Ranveer and his loss….

So?

I think I should go back, in turn I think we should have a contract made that I will bring Riya 3 thrice in this house in a week or something and once she is a bit older she may get to spend her holidays with you for a certain period of time…..

Bani waited then got up, I think I will take your leave, you can take a day or two to think about the same….

Well Pia, I know what my brother-in-law and sister feels about you but then they also have to accept the reality, sooner or later.....and if I let you go from this place, Pia I know one thing, you definitely will lead your own life, that is natural, as an Air hostess you may take into flying again as many companies do not mind their Air hostesses having children and then Riya will be located in a different place, wherever your base will be…….I simply cannot allow that…..

Mr Walia you are saying your folks should accept reality but then your actions are not speaking for your words…..

I know they are not because at the end of the day Madam I do not trust you, your past is something does not earn much sympathy for me and I do not know how long you will keep your promises even if I let you know, other than money I feel you do not value anything else much in your life…..his eyes were cold and cruel…a shiver ran through Bani's body, this man apologized to her in the afternoon, held her warmly and promised such incidents will not occur ever……and now, Bani ran out of the kitchen towards her bedroom…..

++++

As Jai Walia changed, Bani's face haunted him….her hurt eyes, her concern, was he too harsh on her, somehow the picture he got of Ranveer's girlfriend Pia and this Pia was not matching, has Ranveer's death changed her too…..and so drastically that too…..

Ranveer was the only son Jigyasa and Aditya, a bit of spoilt child as he got the best of everything, from his mother, who danced at his tunes literally. At time Aditya protested but Jigyasa did not pay heed. Though they stayed together, Jai was busy building up the business as his parents died one after another within a gap of six months after brief illness. His father had a heart attack his mother heartbroken after the death of her spouse, they were one of those made for each other couples….

Ranveer was a sports lover, good in sports and specially loved racing….he participated in amateur races and took part in air shows and water sports even. Being a handsome man, with money had its vices even, they attract unwanted friendships from both men and women whom Jai termed as gold diggers…Hemant Nerula was one such guy. He was related to his brother-in-law, hence met Ranveer on and off during family functions and other occasions, being more or less of the same age with Hemant being 3-4 years elder, a sweet talker with variety of wrong kind of friends, he lured Ranveer towards his group…no Jai did not want to blame Hemant only but he was one of the main reason, Jigyasa was more than generous with money…soon Ranveer started spending his nights outside….Aditya was furious with little control over Ranveer, so Jai and Ranveer had a talk…Ranveer pointed out Jai himself was no saint, he was not a man who could be his example…Jai agreed and quickly mended his ways, he stopped spending night out of home, came back but Ranveer was not there to learn from him…in fact he had shifted to a flat which he purchased recently as a birthday gift from Jigyasa and had been staying with a girl called Pia, they came to know as she once or twice picked up Ranveer's cell just incase Ranveer happened to be sleeping or in bathroom….one of his passing fancies, Aditya grumbled but kept quiet, Jai Walia thought this is one of the stages and Ranveer will soon come out of it…many other girls too called home from time to time regarding Ranveer, this is what happens if you have a handsome son, announced Jigyasa one morning, later during the week a lady named Rakhi came looking for Ranveer saying she has been made pregnant with his baby…..

While Rakhi took help of the press to publicize her case, Jai Walia used his to curb it down quickly, the results were negative and Rakhi had to leave the city, Jai Walia now called Ranveer and said enough is enough, if he wants to be his heir he has to control is ways otherwise he will have second thoughts, Ranveer too somehow looked ashamed, this time his mother was upset for a change with him, he was greatly relieved when the tests proved negative, he stayed at home…..went to office as regularly as possible with him uncle….after a month or so Jai declared Ranveer his heir …….

One evening he came back to see that Hemant was sitting, though Jai returned his greeting, he had no great liking for the boy, being Aditya relative he did not have much to say also so he walked past him…..

The boy was narrating something to Jigyasa which caught his attention….I am persuading Pia, mamiji but now she is desperate…..aap Ranveer ko bolo kuch paisa dekar to settle the issue for once and all……

The amount she is demanding cannot be given to her with Jai Bhai knowing…..I mean Jai Bhai will not take this lightly now, abhi abhi Rakhi ka case nipta hai….

Jai listened but pretended otherwise, somewhere Ranveer has to take responsibilities of his actions he thought and he is not going to save him everytime…..and specially when somebody in the name and shape of Hemant is involved….

++++

Soon Jigyasa was making noises, Jai remained firm alongwith Aditya, let Ranveer come up and speak let him stand up for his actions…..

Ranveer did, at last….Mamaji I have to handover the money otherwise Pia will not go for an abortion and she is past 3 months, I hope you understand…..

Ranveer I understand but you understand one thing, you have to be responsible, find out if the baby is yours first and then we will talk…..

Of course it has to be mine, I mean we were living together for sometime…..

Well this time I want evidences and I am not going to open my purse strings without one, and mind you the doctor has to be selected by me, kahi se tum report thama doge I will not accept…..

Ranveer went in search of Pia but Pia was not to be found, she has gone abroad on work….

Under these conditions…Jai frowned

Well Pia is a tough woman, very hardy and her pregnancy is not showing……I mean she does not want to ruin her career….

Have you thought about marrying Ranveer, if you really like Pia…..

Pia is not thinking of marriage yet and she thinks I am too young anyway…..

What is wrong with you Jai, Ranveer ka umar hi keya hai, Jigyasa also retorted….

Old enough to become father of nearly two children…..

++++

Jai got up, the wind was picking up and he should retire in bed, he got up to close the window, saw a figure standing in the opposite window, looking at the sky, it was Pia no doubt, she was still awake, her eyes, her words are very different from the Pia whose image he had in mind, after Ranveer's death he had gone into the flat he shared with Pia, there were several photographs of them, Jai had good look at them, her hair was different then, but women change their hairstyles often, otherwise she looked exactly the same, the same ? No…something was different somewhere….what can it be…as he closed the glass window Pia turned hearing the sound, they looked at each other, it was dark but their silhouette was well visible, he would feel her eyes on him, he could see her hurtful eyes…suddenly Pia pulled the curtains closed…Jai Walia sighed….he ran his fingers through his hair then a thought crossed him…Hemant? Hemant knew Pia…..though he never liked the man but he is sure with a bit of money Hemant will give some more details of Pia to him….