FF: Khushi : NOTE-pg5: 2/11 - Page 2

Hey,

I am posting a new part of this old story. I know it has been very long. Many of you might have forgotton it. Let me know if people are still interested 😉.

Part -3

Jai was coming back from his walk when he heard a girl literally shrieking "I will not let any Jai-Shai barge in our lives and take my ma away from me." He saw a girl running out of the room with tears flowing down her cheeks. He could not be wrong; she was khushi, the girl he met yesterday. What was she talking about him?

Jai came back to find his grandfather in a very tensed mood. He never wanted to marry again but he could not oppose his dying grandfather's wish. He thought he could escape this situation but the luck was not on his side. His only hope was the girl Khushi who did not want anybody in her mother's life but he was clueless what magic his grandfather or khushi's aunt Rano did on her and she was as excited as she was going to attend her friend's wedding not mother's. As his grandfathers last wish, Jai and Bani got married in a very small ceremony that included only Rano and Khushi from Bani's side while no one except Aditya from Jai's side.

He could not say no to his grandfather because of all the reasons he was asking him to, along with the fact that he was so much intrigued by the mystery called Bani. She was dignity personified, with the confidence and calmness that was spell bounding. He could not deny that he was attracted to her the moment he saw her. She told him in clear words that she did not want to marry him or anyone else for that matter. Her reasons were simple that she had responsibility of Rano and Khushi. She did not want to burden anybody with her own responsibilities.

He was amused to find that a woman could be so straight forward as he could never forget her words, "Mr. Walia, one more thing. I'm not a.........I'm not very young. I mean I may not be able to give you children. Since you would like to have an heir, I am not sure I would be a good choice." Jai had seen the uneasiness along with the courage with which she spoke.

"I think if you put this matter in front of bauji, might be he would give up the idea of getting us married."

Jai had wanted to spend more time to know about this woman. It was not as if he wanted to marry her, but there was something that pulled him to her. He was thinking about what she suggested. Jai had a very happy though a very short marriage with Sonali. He was not keen to get married but the pressure of his parents to give an heir got him into a disastrous marriage with Roshni. Roshni was everything that Sonali was not. She was from an affluent business family and in a way it was an arrangement made by senior Walia. Uday Walia always prided himself for being what he was, born to rich parents and then achieving great success in material world, he thought of everything in material sense. Jai's marriage to Roshni was one of those decisions that he made for another success.

Three years with Roshni were something that Jai never wanted to think about. He was shattered, his heart, mind and name were damaged beyond repair. The only thing that turn out to be positive was that he started taking decisions with his mind than his heart. He had decided not to give in to anybody's pressure, specially his parent's emotional pressure. He was happy with his life, he was doing well in business and indeed very good without a conniving, treacherous female by his side. Even Bani had wanted to tell him about herself and her family but it was destined that they got married and didn't get enough time to discuss anything. At the end of the day both of them succumbed to their love and regard for the dying Randheer Walia and tied the knot in front of him.

It was as if Randheer Walia was waiting for this marriage to take place, he took his last breath during his sleep that night only. Everyone from his family came for the last rituals of the Walia patriarch. It was very much evident that Uday and Krishna did not like the idea of Bani being their daughter in law. Krishna had specifically asked her to stay away from all the rituals and away from her family. Bani knew that the Walia family never liked her or her family except Jai's grandparents. She wondered if Jai had his parent's consent in marrying her, because the way the couple was treating her, it was very clear they did not approve her to be their daughter in law. But all hell breaks loose when the will of old man was made public. The Walia family did not appreciate it when the solicitor invited the Dixit girls along with the immediate Walia family for the reading of the will.

Randheer Walia had left all the ancestral property in Jai's name that was nearly negligible in comparison to what he earned. The ancestral property had a few hectares of farming land and a old house in the village. He had already handed over all his business over to his son ages ago so the only thing left were various properties that he invested in from time to time from his own earnings. He had passed on his membership and his shares of a printing house in Jigyasa's name. A good amount was named for Anu and Khushi which they would receive when they achieve the age of 21, till than it would be in a trust handled by Bani. All other big and small properties were put up on a trust named after his wife Saraswati devi. A very large amount of cash was already there in that trust which helped underprivileged. It would be Bani's decision to do what she wishes with the property in the trust fund. It was specified that she could use some for building orphanages and old age homes while sell some for getting a good cash for running the trust. It was also specified that it would be completely Bani's responsibility to run the trust as long as she could. A hospital was being built in his wife's name. Rano was aksed to come and take care of the hospital after she finishes her MD. The hospital was charitable and run by the trust. Though Rano will be solely running the trust and the hospital but in case of high expenditures she would have to take Bani's consent. Last was the Saraswati vihar, the villa that he built for his wife, spread over acres of land. Bani was asked to act as it's care taker till the real owner for it was born. The will said that the house will go to Jai and Bani's first born. It was specifically mentioned that in case Jai and Bani did not marry or marry someone else then the house would be given to the Saraswati devi trust. But in any case whether Bani marries Jai or anyone else, she would be the main chairperson for the trust fund.

Krishna fumed as every part of the will was read. She blamed Bani for manipulating the old man. "I am going to writ against this will, Mr. Mehta. The old man was not in his senses and this beggar of a woman had manipulated an old man who was not in his senses."

"Madam, this will was not made yesterday or for that matter in last few months. Mr. Walia made this will ten years ago. He had been making changes in it as and when he bought a new property. The last changes are nearly one and a half year old. Moreover he was mentally fit till the day he died, I assure you of that."

"It is all fabricated. You have also been paid by her. What do you think, no one else has brains. Jai has been given the ancestral property which is worthless, which in any case he would have got even if the old man had given it to anyone else. All the property that he bought are given to this woman who was nobody to him. Don't you think there is something with his death the next day he gets his grandson married to this woman."

"Madam you can think whatever you want, go and challenge the will. Your father in law has not given a single penny to Bani, all the money is in trust that she has to run. Moreover she is answerable to the board of directors of the trust which includes your son and daughter."

Krishna wanted to say something but Uday stopped her. Bani felt so helpless, she wondered where her bauji had landed her into. This was a complete mess. She could understand Krishna's anger but found that she could not do anything in the matter. Jai along with his whole family were looking at her. Bani mustered enough courage and said that she wanted to resign from her post in the trust. But was told by the lawyer that she could not resign as was mentioned in the will, otherwise everything would go to the state authorities.

Bani felt suffocated, she could not take this anymore. She cried her heart out once she was within the walls of her room. She had somehow maintained her composure in front of everybody. But this was too much to bear. Getting married to Jai, then losing her bauji and then this will. Rano came to her an hour later and found her Bani di crying. She did not know how to console her sister. They had only a few hours of happiness two days ago when her sister got married. She found her sister was in real dilemma, getting married to a person all of a sudden and then being blamed to manipulate his grandfather for money.

"Rano I thought that it would be difficult to adjust with his parents as they don't like us. Initially I felt that he had not taken their consent for the wedding. Now this will, what was bauji thinking in giving me this responsibility. No one in his family thinks that it's a responsibility and not some hidden treasure which I will spend on my luxuries."

"Di, Mr. Walia is not a kid to take everybody's consent to marry, moreover it is his problem to convince his family about his relationship. As for the will, I think you need to make yourself clear about it to your husband only. What the world thinks is none of your business. You cannot make everybody happy."

The whole Walia and Bali family started packing to go back. Everyone had their own thought regarding the will and Bani. Some believed she was innocent as she looked while some had a second thought about it as questioned by Krishna. Jai was in no better condition than Bani. He wanted to believe her, but the suspicions raised by his mother were not something to be ignored. He went to tell Bani that they were planning to leave next day morning. But when he asked her to pack her things, she told him that she could not accompany him because of khushi. She told him that this was Khushi's final year in school and she had to write her exams in a month's time. She looked very tensed while they sat there with tea to discuss. To Jai it did not look like that he was talking to his wife. She was so formal around him. She was wearing a shawl as usual over her salwar suit, her hair tied in a bun, sitting at the other end of the room. Whatever Jai was asking, she was answering in monosyllables, never meeting his eyes. At a point of time it came to his mind, if she was really a cheat and that is why could not see him in the eye. But all such thoughts went out of his mind when he took his leave. They were at the door of the drawing room, Jai followed by Bani, when he asked "When will khushi's exam finish?"

"I will give you a call when she finishes with her exams." she said as she choked on her words, what he saw in her eyes was something akin to acute pain. He had to fight the strong urge to take her in his arms and wipe away all her pain. But before he could do anything, Rano came and interrupted the spell.

hey shweta

Clare, what a fabulous update.

As if Bani didn't already have enough stress with marriage and disapproving in-laws, now a will and trust....Waiting for more...