FF.Companion P 8/ Pg 10dt 27/06 - Page 5

Bani slowly opened the front door to the house, carefully and quietly closing the door behind her. She knew she was late, that Jai was likely home and if he caught her sneaking in, there would be hell to pay for not only lying to Geetha, but willfully disobeying him. She had seen his anger, and didn't particularly want to face it.

"Bani." A male voice suddenly called out behind her.

She slowly turned around, smiling. "Jai," she exclaimed, "you startled me."

His normally eyes were dark as he stared at her, his arms across his chest. "Where have you been?" he asked, his voice even, soft.

She swallowed quickly and held her head high, staring at her husband with bravado. "I was just taking a walk…"

He walked towards her and roughly grabbed her arm. "You are lying to me." He growled.

"No…"she denied. "I just went for a walk and lost track of the time Jai…"

"Enough!" he shouted at her, strengthening the hold he had on her arm.

"You're hurting me," she cried as she winced in pain.

"I know you went to see your dad!" he shouted, ignoring her plea. "Did I not tell you not to leave these grounds?!"

She nodded as the tears she had been fighting began sliding down her face. Damn treacherous tears she cried to herself. She had vowed not to show weakness to this monster of a man…and she had failed. "I didn't realize I was a prisoner here!" she shouted, trembling.

"Get upstairs to our room, now!" he demanded, releasing her arm. Bani ran up the stairs in sheer terror…humiliated.

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Bani opened the door to her bedroom, slamming it shut behind her, throwing herself on the bed. Once the tears started, she knew they could not be stopped as she sobbed into a pillow, her body wracking with the force of her cries.

She hated that man downstairs. He was nothing more than a bully, no, a monster. And she was married to him.

The bedroom door opened as Geetha entered the room. She could hear Bani's cries down the hallway and her heart broke in two for the young woman. She closed the door softly and approached the bed, coming to sit next to Bani, and rubbing her back. "Bani," she whispered, "he does not mean to be so rough with you…"

Bani hiccupped as she looked up at Geetha. "Why can I not leave these grounds?" she stammered. "I just wanted to see my dad."

"It is for your own good, Bani," she replied. "He is just looking after you."

"By making me his prisoner?" she asked, her sobs beginning to subside. "How is that looking after me?"

Geetha sighed. Jai was making such a mistake with this one, by not telling her the truth. This one was good for him, she sensed that, but he lived in the past, unable, or unwilling to let go of Pia and her betrayal.

"Come, Bani," the older woman said encouragingly. "Get ready for dinner shall?"

Bani shook her head. "I am not hungry Geetha…I just want to be left alone."

Geetha nodded. "Alright, I will bring you up a tray later, how is that?"

Bani smiled.

"Good, let us get you into your nightgown then and you can rest until I return."

"Thank you Geetha," Bani whispered, "thank you."

The maid felt tears come to her eyes, blinking rapidly to force them away. "Goodness, it will be fine," she assured her. "Trust me child."

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Jai meanwhile, stood outside on the terrace, staring out at the night sky. He was furious with himself for allowing his temper to get the better of him with Bani. She had of course disobeyed his orders, but he had in his anger, managed to terrify her. He could see her face in his mind, terrified as tears she was struggling to hide betrayed her, sliding down her face.

What made matters worse was that he had hurt her, grabbing her arm and ignoring her cry of pain. He cursed out loud. I am a monster, surrounded by darkness.

He was surrounded by darkness, constantly, day or night. It was relentless, a heavy weight on his shoulders. It was punishment he knew, for what had happened to Pia; for what he had allowed to happen to his wife. Regardless of the fact that they were not getting along, that their marriage was a mistake, she had died.

Maybe I am so angry with Rohan because he is, on some level, right, he thought to himself. Maybe I am a murderer.

Now, he had involved another innocent human being, Bani. He cursed again, at the darkness.

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Bani had stopped crying, refusing to shed any more tears for him.

Who does he think he is? She thought angrily, tossing and turning in her bed. He has no right to lay a hand on me. She closed her eyes, but all she could see was his face. He was laughing at her…the only time she had ever seen him laugh, or even give her an indication that he had normal human emotions besides anger. She tossed and turned, restless, unable to get Jai out of her mind, cursing the fact he had managed to invade her thoughts in such a manner. That she had allowed him to invade her thoughts.

She sighed, and realizing that tossing and turning was pointless, got up and headed out to the balcony. The night air was refreshing on her face, as she took in a deep breath. Regardless of having to deal with Jai's wrath of earlier, it had been worth it just for the chance to have an afternoon with her dad…

"Sit dear daughter," Karan said, ushering her into the drawing room. "How are things?"

"Things are bearable Dad," she replied honestly. "Jai is in Pune so I have had the day to myself."

Karan nodded as he looked at his daughter. She certainly didn't look the worse for wear, but then Bani was always able to hide her true feelings incredibly well. "There is something bothering you?"He prodded.

"Dad, how well do you know Jai?" she asked, leaning forward in her chair.

He stared at her for a moment, his response coming slowly. "In all honesty, Jai is a difficult man to get to know Bani," he explained carefully. "He is guarded and he plans things very carefully."

She nodded her understanding. "Did you know he had been married before?"

Karan stared at his daughter in surprise. "I had no idea…"

"No one will talk to me of her Dad," she explained. "No one will tell me what happened, where she is, or what happened between them…"

Karan looked at his daughter curiously. "It is important for you to know?" he asked her.

She returned his look with one of her own. Several minutes later she nodded her head. "It is important to me Dad," she admitted. "I want to know what happened to Pia."

He looked at his daughter. "Why is it so important for you to know Bani?"

"You know how I hate a mystery Dad," she replied grinning, "I am curious…no one is allowed to talk of her…"

He looked at Bani and nodded, but didn't believe her reason for desiring to know about Pia. She was beginning to have some feeling for Jai, and it worried him. Jai was incapable of showing anything but anger and his daughter was in for heartache if he didn't do something.

"Alright my dear daughter," he said. "I will see what I can find out, but you must promise me something."

Bani looked at her dad suspiciously. "What would that be?"

"If I find out what you want to know about Pia, you must promise to leave Jai if there is any possibility of you being hurt."

"But Dad, the house…"

"This house is not worth it my dear." He said firmly, "Now promise me that much."

She sighed. "Alright, I promise."

Little did her dad know she had already been hurt; not physically, but rather emotionally.

She sighed as she leaned against the balcony, her thoughts on the man downstairs and whether he was even capable of an emotion such as love.

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He was hiding in the bushes, watching Bani on the balcony, her long brown hair cascading around her shoulders. She was dressed in white and as she placed her hands on the balcony, he caught the glimmer of a ring on her left hand. It didn't matter however; he knew this was Jai's new wife. He had attended the wedding, and although he knew Jai and this woman were up to something, he had no idea exactly what that something was. However, as far as he was concerned, it didn't matter what kind of games the pair were playing. He had his own agenda and he was not about to be deterred from that; he had been working behind the scenes since Pia. It hadn't exactly gone the way he hoped, but since her death he had learned a few things.

This time Jai will pay, he thought as he continued to stare at the unsuspecting Bani. It is such a shame that his wife must die…she is quite becoming…perhaps I shall play with her for awhile before making my move…like a cat with a mouse.

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bit sad part