FF Before the storm ch40pg76.updtd 23rd aug - Page 2

You are the new girl Adi brought?' she asked looking squarely at her. Bani did not respond. Jigyas's forehead formed in to a frown. Bani quickly nodded. She turned away from Bani and opened the door opposite her the door shut on Bani's face.

Chapter 2

The woman on the bed opened her eyes and looked at her daughter.

'Ma..' called Jigyasa, 'how is the new girl?' she sat on the small settee across the bed.

The woman did not bother to reply her. 'Ma please Adi had tried hard to find this girl be patient…'

'look who is talking.' Muttered the older lady. Jigyasa heard her clearly but chose to ignore it. she was not in any mood to start a fight with her mother. Her mother had been too cranky since she fell from the bathroom and sprained her leg though there was no serious damage the lady found hard to walk again. Jigyasa and her children were not much help and the boys she mothered had no time for their mother and their spouses did not want to do anything with the mother who was too hard to please. They did not have the time or patience with the cranky lady. Jigyasa did not have any other way other than take care o f the woman. Aditya had offered to take care in front of her brothers and she did not have any other way than take her mother with her.

'Ma how are you feeling now?' she asked

'you do know the answer to that question Jigyasa I am very unhappy about the way you guys treat me.'

Jigyasa'a frown deepened. 'what is it you want us to do Ma. Be here at your beck and call we have life to live and my children they are studying why cant you be pleased with the help we provide you?'

Saraswati smirked. What help Jigyasa the one that you brought two months ago?' snapped the woman referring to Laxmi. 'What's wrong with Laxmi ma?'

'everything is wrong about her.. she is not very clean and I do not like her.'

'you will like the new girl I am sure.' Jigyasa tried to pacify her mother.

'I may not.'

'Al right then I'll ask Bhaiya to come and collect you Bahi will take care of you…'

That did it. Jigyasa often used that line to bring her mother in line. She hated her son's wife and moreover they never got on well. The woman kept quite. Jigyasa got up from the settee with a winning smile.

'send the new girl in here.' Said her mother as she reached the door.

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Bani did not see her mother till the time for dinner. Saraswati made sure bani never left her side she kept demanding her attention for small things. Bani took all her snide remarks patiently. She massaged the woman's leg. The woman complained Bani used more pressure on her leg when she slowed down she complained she did not know how to massage. She took all her bickering with a pinch of salt. This was after all her grandmother. Saraswati had finished telling her about her family Jigyasa being the only daughter she had two sons who are very busy even to visit their mother. Bani gave her a sympathetic look. She finished massaging her leg and left the woman's side to get dinner for her. when she reached the kitchen the dinner was not ready. Laxmi and the cook was struggling in the kitchen. Bani looked at them for a moment and went to help them. she took over from the cook to make curry Laxmi put the dishes the cook made rice and chapatti. In thirty minutes they finished making dinner. Bani took a tray to the lady's room on the way back she peeped into see the rest of them her sisters and brother. No one was in sight she heard the girls talk and fight. She walked tot eh old woman's room with the tray in hand. The lady gave her a disapproving look. 'I thought you forgot about my dinner.. what took you so long?'

'The dinner was not ready madam I am sorry.' She put the tray before her helped her in a sitting position. The woman looked at the tray. She put the tray before her and the woman started to attack the food. Bani watched as she ate. She seemed to like the food. 'what has come over Paro today? The food taste like food..'

Bani wanted to ask how was it before? She did not have to ask the lady provided the rest. 'she knows how to cook god only knew what she used to make before…'

Bani kept quiet she did not say she helped the lady. Bani stood in the corner to the room watching her when she finished she helped her, took the tray and walked out of the room. She was on her way to the kitchen she spotted a young woman who wore shorts who had dyed her hair in brown before Bani could asses her the girl frowned. 'You are the new maid?''

Bani nodded. She left her side and walked to the living room before disappearing from her sight she called out, 'Serve dinner…'

Bani saw her leave this was one of her sisters. She looked nothing like Bani. she was ultra modern. Bani did not stand and ponder for long she walked to the kitchen.

Bani went and set the table arranged the food and looked around to see a glimpse of the others. She saw her mother walk down the stairs. Bani stood near the table watching her. Jigyasa got down the stair and walked to the table pulled a chair and looked at her with a scowl. 'You may leave we will call you if we need anything.' Her tone was sharp. There was no softness Bani was trying to find. She left her side with a nod. Bani heard commotion behind her she turned her head to see her people. A young man walked towards the table with a girl she was nothing like the girl Bani saw a while ago. Aditya Bali followed them and Bani left the place with a happy face.

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Jigyasa was nothing like Bani have imagined about her mother there was nothing soft about her. She raised her voice most of the time with her children fought with Aditya most of the time. Nothing pleased her she found fault in everything Bani and the servant did at home. Bani noticed Jigyasa never got on well with her children and most of the time she defied her husband. Bani felt awfully bad about the people living in the house. Everyone lived their life to please one's self. Nobody cared for anyone other than themselves. Her grandmother Saraswati had thawed a little she complained less. Bani religiously applied oil for her leg and the woman felt she could move her legs a bit. Bani had even encouraged her to walk holding her. The woman finally gave in after much protest. She helped Saraswati around the room made her take few steps almost carried her to bed when she complained her leg ached. Saraswati watched the dedication in Bani's job. She hated Laxmi and her attitude towards Laxmi did not change at all.

The cook and Laxmi stepped aside from their work as soon as they spotted Bani's head. Bani knew more or less they were taking good advantage of her knowing it she never complained she was after all doing the work for her family.

Jigyasa noticed the changes in the kitchen she dismissed Laxmi shocking the life out of her Laxmi in her wildest dream did not imagine she would be out from this household. She fired Laxmi stating she had been noticing the new girl has been doing the whole work if she could take care of her mother and a help the cook in the kitchen she did not want any other help who took advantage of the situation and she was not growing a money tree where she can distribute it freely. Bani felt awful she felt bad for being the cause of Laxmi's dismissal.

It was two weeks later Bani got a chance to talk to her siblings. The third child Anupama walked up to her as she was washing the dishes that were piled up after dinner. Bani saw the girl stand hesitantly at the door. She wiped her hand on the towel and turned to look at her. 'you want something?' she asked with a smile. Anu shook her head hesitantly. Bani saw the hesitance in her she walked towards her and held her hand and looked into her eyes. 'tell me .. what happened?'

She shrugged off her hand and turned her back and exited the kitchen. Bani knew something was not right. She just heard an argument between Jigyasa and Aditya. But she had been hearing these arguments every other day lately. This was nothing new for this house she thought. The youngest one needed something from her she knew. She rinsed her hand thoroughly once again and walked to the room Anupama used. She knocked on the door and went in Anu was sitting behind the study desk resting her head on the table. She looked up as Bani went in. 'Is it okay if I come in?' asked Bani.

She nodded. Bani walked towards her. 'can I sit down and talk to you?'

'Hm..'

'Why did you come looking for me in the kitchen Anu?'

Anu avoided her eyes. Bani leaned forward and took her face in her hand. 'tell me Anu how can I help?

Anu wanted to ask her to stay in the room for some time. She was getting scared to sleep alone but how would she ask her? And why would she stay for Anu? Laxmi never stayed with her when she got scared she made fun of her why would this didi stay with her would she not mock her like Laxmi and Pia her sister always did.

'Anu tell me you can tell anything don't worry if I can help I'll gladly do it jan..' bani couldn't contain herself from using the endearment. Anu looked at her surprised. Bani smiled soothingly.

'I er.. am scared to sleep alone in the room..' she stammered.

Bani felt awful. 'what happened? You do sleep alone..'

'hm… but I am little scared today Bhai was telling all kinds of scary story during dinner I am scared Bani di…'

Bani looked at Anu the child looked hardly 12 or 13 years. She was still a child. 'why did you not ask Pia di Bacha?'

'Pia di won't let me use her room she hates someone walk in to her room god only knows what she is hiding there? Anu snapped. Bani smiled. 'what about mama aur papa?'

She shook her head in denial 'Ma will not like it and I don't want papa and ma fight over me…' she lowered her voice. Bani knew her predicament the child hated their bickering. Why was their mother thick headed thought Bani. Many times she had felt it Jigyasa wanted to win every topic they discussed or talked about and many times she had seen Aditya sir resign himself from further arguments. Bani's thoughts were broken by Anu. 'can you stay here for a while till I fall asleep?'

Bani looked at the girl and nodded. 'I will stay here till you fall asleep Anu.'

The girl smiled she got on to her bed and Bani covered her in the quilt. She patted her head sitting beside. They talked awhile about Anu's school and friends her class tests. All the while Bani ran her hand through her hair combing her hair slightly with her fingers in no time Anu fell asleep. Bani watched her for a while and tip toed out of the room shutting the door slightly after her. Aditya moved hastily from the door as he heard the footsteps. He knew his little girl was frightened of scary stories. She used to run to them to sleep with till Jigyasa put her foot down about children should not be pampered unnecessarily and because of Aditya's attention the younger one was not growing up. She behaved too childish and that was against Jigyasa's rules. He wanted to check on Anu he saw Bani enter her room he had stood hesitantly at the door he heard them speak. Aditya liked the new girl. She looked more matured than her actual age there was something about the girl. She worked around the house with dedication. The house looked more like a home now. The living room and the kitchen was in order where as in the living the news paper was often found crumbled near the sofa or the table when he returned home. Now there were visible changes. She took effort in keeping the place in order and the food too tasted good. He should thank his friend it was because him he got Bani. he had told him about the place called Shanti Ghar. Raman Saxena should be thanked properly for this.

Jigyasa never appreciated anything done by others other than her. She prided in her work her thoughts and her life. Aditya often felt his wife was ignorant but whom would he complain? To Jigyasa? how much would she understand him? how much does she know about him, since they got married he had bore all her tantrums and unreasonable attitude. He never knew how he had fallen in love with a woman he had waited to get married to. Once the proposal was rejected by her family stating his status and years later when he made enough for him he was accepted in the family as per their standards. What had he seen in her in the first place? Her beauty? How foolish was he? Aditya dismissed the unpleasant thoughts and walked to his daughter's room. He opened the room and stepped in. she was asleep. He watched for few moments and went back to his room.

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Sahil Bali had noticed the new maid his father had brought home. She was rather cute and looked very affectionately at him. was it the right time to try the new trick on her will she fall in his trap? His friends did share their stories about their affairs with their maids. He had never tried something as such but why not? this new one was well… his thoughts were interrupted by a slap on his shoulder. He looked at the person and a smile formed on his lips. 'Bahi.. what a surprise? When did you land? And did you bring me what I have asked for?'

The man took his seat across him and said in a serious tone, 'what things Sahil I don't remember anyting you have asked me to bring?'

'Don't tell me you did not..I was looking forward to those Cd's.'

Jai Walia laughed. 'I did by the way where's Uncle Adi? And aunt?'

'Papa is upstairs and Ma is out somewhere…' he provided.

'And your sisters?'

'may be here somewhere…' he cared less about them.

Jai shook his head. 'ek chai milne ki chance hein idhar?'

'Yes why not? Sahil jumped from the sette. This was the chance to call Bani he thought with a smile he called out to the kitchen. 'One tea please..'

Jai frowned. 'whom are you ordering around?'

'Maid..'

'Hm… I'll check on your dadi..' he got up and walked to saraswati's room. Sahil watch him go. The man was in good shape he was such a busy man but still managed to keep fit. Papa was always proud of his nephew and Sahil couldn't get of the jealous feeling he evoked every time Jai visited his house. He was as tall as 6 feet. He carried himself with lan. He was a businessman best in his field.

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Jai knocked on the door and walked in to the lady's room. Saraswati's face lit up with smile as he entered and greeted her. He noticed a young woman assist the lady to sitting position. She acknowledged him briefly and walked to the door.

Jai saw her leave the room. She looked very simple wore a cotton salwar khameez. The color suited her well and she had a cute face.

'Jai what a surprise son? I don't think you might have had tea?'

'No sahil had called out to someone to make tea..'

'Hm… Bani…' she looked at the girl and said, 'Bring tea for Jai and some snacks..'

'No snack.' He smiled 'only tea.'

She nodded and walked out of the room. Jai looked around the room once messy room was kept neat and organized. The woman before him looked better.

'How are you doing aunty?' he asked.

'fine…finally Adi could find someone who knows her job.'

Jai was surprised at the appreciation. Saraswati looked at his surprised look and smiled.'Sachi.. bahoth achi ladki hein..'

He smiled.

Jai spent some time with her. Bani bought him tea and kept the tray before him and left the room.

Jai loved tea and he couldn't never get out of the addiction he had for tea. He took the cup and sipped.

'good'. he murmured.

'I told you she is good..' smiled Saraswati.

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love

kamy