Byebye
R
_____
Part 1
5 Years later.
Jai slammed the phone on the sofa. 'Why do I call every time?'
He kicked the sofa and punched the cushion on it. Just to release the pent up frustration. He needed a way to let go otherwise he would get mad. It was like this every time he called his mother. She hadn't changed in all these years and ever since 'that man' came back it became worse. Why did she still make an effort to include him in Jai's life? There wasn't any room for a deserter. Not even when 'that man' apologized and was living in their house now. Almost his entire life, even these last five years, he had managed without 'him'. And he would continue to manage without 'him'.
Jai finally got that piece of paper he wanted to have. Yes, he had been handling his business and was quite successful in it, but it nagged him that he didn't have the degree he wanted. It was why he came to America. Jai completed the four-year program in two years. Seeing how hard jai was working and how knowledgeable he was on certain subjects he got an exemption from certain classes which give him the opportunity to take up different subjects.
But studying was not the only thing he did. He proved 'that man' that he was like before. What ever had happened didn't affect him. He worked harder than everyone. Now he was overseeing the branches of WGI in America. He also partied harder than everyone else and dated everyone who was willing. Just to prove that he lived a life like the rest and that mans absence had not influenced him. Jai has not noticed how wrong his own reasoning was.
Jai straightened his jacket looking in the mirror. He straightened his bow tie a bit before he walked down the stairs to his car. The Indo-American function that was being held had invited him and this year he didn't have any excuse. Well he might as well go now. He just needed to pick up his date.
***
Jai entered the function hall with a beautiful woman at his side. The function had started already. The lights were switched off. Jai made his way to their seats on the front row with the help of an usher. Suddenly a small light in the front drew his attraction. A loud tune boomed through the hall. A spellbinding, male voice resounded through the speaker.
Saajan yeh mat jaaniyo, ke tum bicharat mohe chain
Jai saw a woman lying on the dark stage. A spotlight focused on her.
Gile ban ki laakari, jo sulgat ho din- rain
She was breathing rhythmically on the music. Her chest heaved on the tunes.
She rolled on her side, towards the audience, with the hand she was lying on shielding her face.
Still lying of the stage she brought her knees to her chest, lying in foetal position for a split second, then taking her former position.
More an gang baaje madhur bansuri,
More an gang baaje madhur bansuri tori yaadon ki chayya tale
She placed her left hand on her right hip and her right hand on her left hip, crossing her arms on her stomach. Without bending her knees a bit she sat up straight, dragging long and shiny black hair behind her like a curtain that soon blended in the background of the black stage. Immediately she turned her back towards the audience.
Dheere dheere pavan naacho ey mora mann, jaise nadiyan me naiyya challe
The wind blew from somewhere in her face. Her hair swayed behind her.
Two spotlights lightened on the either side of the stage.
Aaj sapno ki nagri me kho jaaungi
She bend back slightly, resting her hands behind her on the floor. Folding her legs next to her at the same time. A red veil dropped from her somewhere above and landed on her head. The spotlight was somewhat brighter now. She looked like a bride, waiting for someone.
Aaj apne piya ki mai ho jaaungi…………
aaj sapno ki nagari me kho jaungi
She turned around slowly and slowly lifted the veil.
Aaj apne piya ki mai ho jaaungi
For the First time she showed her audience her face. Flawless, with a wheatish complexion that made warm, brown eyes sparkle more when she lifted her gaze , extended her arm and showed her palm. Red figures were drawn on it. Behind her the stage turned bright orange.
More haathan ki mehndi agan roop hai jaise suraj ho shaam dhale.
(song: More Ang Ang, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, album: Charka)
The person on stage stood up elegantly. The spotlights focussed on her entirely. She was wearing a white dress with a wide skirt and a pants under them that was narrow around her ankles. Broad red bands with silver bells were tied around he ankles. The beat of the music picked up suddenly. She seemed to fly on and over the stage. Jai sat there, glued to his seat. She moved elegantly making sounds with her ghungroos that barely was heard over the load music. But Jai heard them. The dance was like a precious gift, like rain was drizzling on parched land. Like she was weaving a magical web, trying to draw everything in it.
It was dark again. Jai still sat in his chair looking at the stage, until his companion nudged him. Startled he looked up.
'Jai, everyone left. We should leave too.' She said a tad bit annoyed. Jai barely managed to nod and got up. He followed her though the hall where the rest of the function would be held. It was a big gathering. Important people of the community were at this function. Most of them nodded at Jai with a big smile, acknowledging him. Jai ignored some, forgot about others and tried to avoid the rest. He didn't even like most of the people here. He was just here just for the founder. An honest and genuine man, different from most of the people here who were just trying to look at the rest of the people, trying to find some kind of flaw in them.
Guests started clapping. For whom? Jai didn't know. He heard the founder's voice and tried to find the direction the sound was coming from. A woman in a white saree that seemed to sparkle in the light, was standing in the middle. She was smiling shyly and tried to wave of the attention she got. Jai tried to figure out where he had seen her before. She seemed familiar.
It was the dancer! It was her!
The grace and elegance....the style. It was her! The only things that changed were her clothes and her jewellery. And she was wearing rimless glasses.
'The dance floor is opened, so please enjoy yourselves!' Boomed through the speakers.
Not even looking at the woman next to him, Jai marched across the hall and extended his hand.
'may I have the pleasure of dancing with you.'
She looked confused, then suddenly angered. The white of her saree made her face look even more red.
'No thanks.' She answered bluntly.
Even before Jai could turn around another man came and took her for a dance. Jai's eyes followed her. From where he was standing he could see her move with grace on the floor, her hand was
and resting on the shoulder of her dance partner. She look amazing in her saree. The outlining of her delicate feminine curves made heads turn. At least his head turned.
The song ended and Jai approached her again. She looked annoyed.
On the other side an other man was walking towards her, eying her. Before he would reach her Jai pulled her on the other side out of the man's view.
'Hey, you cant say you don't know how to dance.' Jai whispered at her.
'I said no.' The woman said with a faint Indian accent, looking very upset. 'Cant you take a hint?!"
'It's just a dance,'
'I know. But the woman you came with is looking at me like she would attack me any moment now.'
' I don't see any reason for her to be upset.' Jai said with a casual shrug. 'We are not serious anyway.'
'You don't seem to be the type that takes relationships serious.' She said in a faint whisper which Jai didn't hear. He was too busy pulling her towards the dance floor. A slow number started and Jai put his arms around her. He saw the reluctance in her, but she did what she had to do, although she chose to look at the floor instead of him.
'I'm not that bad to look at.' Jai gently teased her. She was silent.
'What's your name?' he tried to make conversation again after a while. Her silence continued.
'your name?'
'aap ko sunne me taqleef hoti hai?' she asked him rudely. He thought for a while, then smiled. Jai was to engrossed in looking at her that he had missed the thank-you speech the founder of the organisation gave, mentioning her name too.
'Well, I always found that a lady's name sounds better from her own lips.'
She glared at him for a while, then looked at the floor again.
'Bharti...uhm....'
'Nice name.'
Jai noticed that the end of the song was approaching. 'Let's meet for dinner.' Jai suddenly blurted out. He was surprised himself. He never really pursued women like this.
'No.' she answered determinedly.
'lunch?
'no.'
'breakfast.' He whispered with a husky tone in her ear.
'I don't eat with strangers.' She answered in anger.
'Ow, sorry. I am Jai. Jai Walia. There, we are no longer strangers.'
'No, we are not strangers anymore, but you are still equally annoying.'
The music ended, she released herself out of his grip and walked away, leaving Jai behind on the dance floor laughing loudly.
***
Bani opened the door of her hotel room with the key card. Even before that her best friend cum assistant manager Rano jumped on her.
' Hey Hun.... show kaisa tha?'
'Hmm' bani just mumbled.
'Hmm matlab?'
'nice.'
Rano's eyes popped out of their sockets. 'You are satisfied with your performance? Man, that must be a first-timer.'
'hmm.' Was the only answer Rano received. Rano glared at her best friend. 'What happened? Tell me now!'
Rano heard a loud sigh. 'Baba's son is here. I saw him at that function.'
'Baba's son......matlab your 'husband'. Rano said raising her hands in the air and making air quotes. Rano was the only one who knew about Banis wedding.
'he isn't my 'husband'' Bani said mimicking Rano's action. ' he is just Ma and Baba's son.'
'What did he say?' Rano asked eagerly, almost jumping on Bani again.
' He asked me to dance, then asked me for my name.'
'Name? he didn't recognize you or what?'
'probably not.' Bani said casually. 'I blundered too. Bharti slipped from my mouth. I am so used to that name now. Chaah kar bhi hum khud ko correct nahin kar paaye.'
'Bura nahin lagta hai that he didn't recognize you? I mean you were married and all. He was your 'husband'. Rano did the air quotes again.
'Not really.' Bani said with a shrug. ' I don't know. I moved on. He moved on. It wasn't a marriage out of willingness. And probably it also didn't mean a thing to him. Why cry over things that were not there? He didn't even recognize me. That means he never even wanted to know his wife. Humaari shakal tak shayed theek se yaad nahin hai. I mean I haven't changed that much. Well, I have my life, he had his.'
'Yeah, but still Bani.' Rano said hesitantly. 'Pati, shaadi and all. Usko tum bhool gayi? I know how much you adhere to traditions. Aur oopar se tumhaare Baba aur Maa. What if he wants you back?
'No. not at all.' Bani shook her head. 'I know he didn't want to marry me. But he could have told me so. I wouldn't have forced him. Instead he jumped to all sorts of conclusions. The way he insulted me and my family, no way I would like to get back with him!' Bani responded fiercely.
'Hmm.' Rano hummed. 'By the way. Woh yahan par karta kya hai?'
'in between fliting? Pata nahin.' Bani answered.
Suddenly the bell rang. Bani, who was standing closer to the door, opened it. A huge bouquet of roses was handed to her. Closing the door Bani searched for a card from the sender.
I know these flowers aren't the most beautiful in the world, but next to you even those flowers would look wilted.
Call me.
Jai Walia
On the bottom of the card a number was scribbled.
Bani started laughing when she placed the bouquet on a table. Rano looked at her in surprise. Bani handed her the card.
well, next to flirting, my husband comes up with cheesy lines for women he just met. Bani said casually. Rano burst out in peals of laughter.
What are you going to do?' Rano asked when Bani picked up the phone.
' Hum unhe call karne jaa rahe hai. Sach bataane ke liye. Maa aur baba ko unki zaroorat hai. Maybe I'll be able to convince him.'
'you think so?'
'I'll have to try na.'
Bani was dialling the number written on the card when the phone was snatched from her hand by Rano. Rano had a spark in her eyes. A spark that had trouble written on it, all over.
'Not yet honey. Not like this.' Rano said in a low voice. 'Jai Walia, your 'husband' should feel how it is to be insulted. How much it hurts.' Seeing that Bani was about to protest Rano put her hand on Bani's mouth. 'no! not a word. Usne sirf tumhaara nahin, tumhaari family, tumhaare baba ka apmaan kiya hai. ' Rano said, using Bani's weaknesses.
'See it this way.' Rano continued. 'After we are done with Jai Walia he will be more than willing to go back to India!'
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
