FF Before the storm ch40pg76.updtd 23rd aug - Page 3

Chapter 3

Jigyasa was back from her party she met Jai on his way out. Jai stopped and smiled at her.

'Jai what a surprise leaving already?'

'Yep, I have been here for past 2 hours. How was your party Mami?'

'Okay, did you have lunch?'

'Yes thank you. It was delicious I must say you have a fine cook at home.'

'Adi brought her to look after ma. How's didi?'

'Ma is doing fine I was telling mama to come over for dinner. He did not give me a yes but Mami I am telling you now coming week I am keeping a party and I want you guys there.'

'Yes Jai as you wish..'

'Alright then I'll take my leave..' he left giving her a nod and Jigyasa marched to her room. Jigyasa had been working as a professor in college. She was a strict professor and her students were scared of her anger. Jigyasa saw her husband sitting and reading the paper. Adi acknowledged her and went back to his reading. She went to freshen up, When Jigyasa returned after freshening up Adi was still sitting with the paper. 'Pia is home?' she asked.

'No, did she not say where she is going?' he asked lifting his head from the paper.

'What is this Adi how you can be so careless with them. she is a girl and..'

'Jigyasa.. I think you should know about that. A mother should keep her ears and eyes open when it comes to her girls..'

'Don't you start Adi… don't you lecture me about responsibilities..' she fumed.

Aditya smirked. 'when have you let me speak Jigyasa pick up the phone and dial you daughter'.

Jigyasa picked the phone and throwing him a look dialed her daughter's number.

'Pia where the hell are you? No… come now.. be here in 15 minutes…' she disconnected the call and threw the cell on the bed. In another 15bminutes Aditya heard the main door open and shut with loud bang. He counted till five and Pia's door shut with even louder bang.

'kahan gayab ho jatheien hein manners….. aaj kal ki ladkiyan' he murmured.

Jigyasa threw the comb on the table and marched out of the room. Adi counted till 10 and then he heard exchange of words from mother and daughter. Jigyasa's voice rose above the ceiling. He heard Pia shout and then cry. He did not get up from the seat.

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Bani looked heaven wards. She had been watching Pia . Pia was a peculiar type. She remained in her room all the time. Bani never saw or heard a family discussion. Everyone in the house was into their own shell. She often heard Pia laugh and joke on the phone never to her mother or father or her siblings. She would give bani a disapproving look when she saw her looking at her. bani wanted to reach out to them. show them what they are taking for granted. Bani often dreamed of having her own people around her talk with them laugh with them. Here this family had every one of them under one roof but no one cared what the other did. Why was her mother so unreasonable to her children? Why was she not giving proper attention to her kids. She thought sadly.

'Bani..' called Saraswati.

Bani quickly moved to the lady's room. The woman had problems with her feet she asked Bani to apply balm for her. Bani reached for her feet and massaged it with the balm. Saraswati watched her applying balm for her with utmost care. She felt very soothing at the touch of her hand. Bani closed the lid and reached for her feet again.

'who taught you all this Bani?' asked the woman.

Bani looked up and smiled at the woman. 'Dai ma, I used to watch her massage our Shanti ma's feet.'

'Shanti ma who?'

Bani's face fell. 'she was our mother madam… she was the owner of shanti Ghar..'

Shanti ghar?'

'hm.. it's an orphanage madam. I was brought by…'

Saraswati felt bad for her. 'Dai ma?'

'Dai ma had brought me into Shanti ghar. Shanti ma took us in her care. Shanti ma is no more the orphanage is run by her relative now..'

'How did Adi find you?'

'I don't know madam..'

Saraswati took her hand in her's for the first time and held her hand in her grip. 'You have magical touch Bani. it's very soothing when you massage. You are a blessed soul Bani may God bless you.' Immediately after saying it Saraswati looked surprised. She had never appreciated any one before But this girl was different. There was something about her.

'Bring my tea dear and fast..'

Bani was surprised at the sudden affection the lady was showing her. she took a minute to react. 'Go bani get me tea..' smiled the lady pushing her slightly. A smile formed on Bani's lips she has not thought that her grandmother would change her attitude towards Bani this soon. Her heart fluttered if her mother would give her some attention she would not ask anything more form God.

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All the hell broke loose the next day. Bani had cleaned Pia's piled up room. Pia created havoc at home. She was angry with her mother last day for demanding to be back home soon. The party with her friends was not over and she just had chance to talk to Kishore that time. Her mom called and demanded to return. Kishore was the celebrity in the college her senior. All the girls drooled over him and he seemed interested in Pia. Her friend told her so. There were stories about Kihore dating and dumping gilrs but nothing mattered to Pia he was a celebrity and his attention meant popularity among friends and enemies.

Pia screamed at Bani for cleaning her room without her presence. Her things were missing and she couldn't find them.

'how dare you touch my things?' she screamed.

Bani looked at her calmly and asked, 'What is missing Pia I'll find it for you the room was so messy I cleaned.'

'Shut up you… get out of here and do not enter my room…' she shooed her away. Pia's cell rang and she picked up the call looking at the name that flashed on the screen Bani noticed the joy that flickered on her face. Pia gave her a nasty look and pointed her to the door. She closed the mouth piece with her hand and murmured 'close the door.. out..'

Bani stepped out. She heard Pia speak, "kishore .. hm.. I'll try and meet you after the class..'

Bani did not like the tone she felt a sudden need to protect her sister from the bad vultures of the world. In her heart she felt the caller did not have a good intention. It was a gut feeling and she couldn't get that feeling out of her mind. She was almost down the stairs she saw Sahil walk up the stairs he saw her and stopped. Gave her a flirtiest smile. She tried to go past him he blocked her way. This was her brother she thought frantically but what did he know. He was ignorant about her identity but she knew their relation Bani gave him a stern look. And quickly went past him in her haste her shoulder had hit him.

Sahil touched his sleeve and smiled and climbed upstairs.

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Pia complained about her to Jigyasa when she returned from the college. Bani had brought Jigyasa tea. 'why did you go to her room without permission?' asked Jigyasa.

'the room was messy Ma'am..'

'How dare you? Why did you go to my room? God only know what you stole from the room?' Pia shouted.

Bani's heart broke. 'I do not steal.' Said Bani.

'Don't you back answer girl. Do the work what you have been asked to do not go to every room and clean as it pleases you.' Said Jigyasa sipping the tea.

'Yes Ma'am.' Bani said and turned to go Aditya stopped her.

''Bani did I not ask you to clean pia's room I saw the girls room it's messy cloths everywhere.. what do you think you are doing Pia?' scolded Aditya looking at his daughter.

Jigyasa did not like Adi taking Bani's side. She made a face. Aditya ignored her and looked at Bani. 'Bani tomorrow I want you to clean Sahil's room too and when you get time do our's.'

Bani nodded. She avoided Pia's stare. She left the room and heard Jigyasa shout. 'how dare you Adi you insult me in front of?'

'how is that an insult Jigyasa asking to clean a messy gilrs room is not an insult.'

'Aditya you are….' She stopped and looked at Pia. 'Now go Pia and try and keep the room clean otherwise I'll have to order her to clean your room again.'

Pia stormed off.

"Adi did you take 500rs by any chance from my purse?' asked Jigyasa.

'No why?' he asked his wife removing his shirt.

'I kept the money in my purse just yesterday and it's not there.'

'did you search thoroughly? He asked taking the towel and walking to the bathroom.

'Adi please..'

'then where do you think it's gone? You do know I tell you if at all I need to take something from your purse..'

'Yes I know.. this is not for the first time…. Do you think the new girl?'

Aditya turned abruptly from the door and looked at her. 'Don't you even think about it. she will not take. Do proper investigation and then blame others.'

Jigaysa kept her mouth shut.

During dinner she mentioned about the money to everyone.

'It must be her.' said Pia. Pia ignored Aditya's stare.

Sahil kept quiet and had his dinner. Anu protested defending Bani.

'What has gotten into you defending a maid?' frowned Pia looking at her little sister.

'She is better than you.' Murmured Anu and continued with her food.

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Sahil sat back in his chair and thought, no one has suspected him he should be careful next time when he lifts money from mom's purse. His thought diverted to Bani. he walked out of his room stood near the door and yelled for Bani.

Bani appeared down the stairs and looked up.

'Bring me a glass of lime juice Bani. I'll be in the room.'

Bani knew what he was up to. She nodded and went to the kitchen made Lime juice and called Anu. She knocked on Anu's room and went in with two glass of lime juice.

'Bani di for me? She asked. Bani nodded giving her a glass. When she finished gulping down Bani handed the small tray and asked her to take the juice to her brother.

'You give him na bani di.'

'Please Anu pretty please take this to your brother when you come back I'll tell you new story.' She smiled.

'Alright,' she took the tray and marched upstairs.

Sahil was waiting impatiently for Bani to walk into his room. He heard the knock on the door and called out. His face fell at the sight of his sister. Bani was acting smart he thought angrily he lashed at his sister who asked you to come with the juice where is Bani?'

'you want juice right take this.' She placed the tray on the table and walked out.

Bani had a crashing sound as soon as Anu walked down. Sahil appeared near the door and yelled for Bani to come and clean the room. Bani did not have any choice than walk into his room. She took a broom a towel and walked to his room. He gave her a winning smile. She ignored him and started to clean the room. She saw him watch her from the corner of her eyes. she felt suffocated. She took the glass pieces and put them in the bin.

'Here let me help you.' he said trying to befriend her.

'It's okay.'

'I insist', he said and took the glass from her deliberately brushing her fingers with his.

Bani knew where this was going. She knew his age. 'Sahil move aside I know my job.'

'I was only helping you.'

'if you want so much to help, help your sisters they need you more than me.'

He took a second to answer her. 'you playing hard to get I know girls like you?' his tone changed.

'How many girls do you know Sahil? This girl is different brother.' She said cleaning the floor and straightening.

'Brother? I have 2 sisters and I have no intention to add one more in the family.' He smirked.

She knew he did not know what he was talking about but it hurt her somewhere in the corner. Bani walked to door hurriedly he caught her hand. 'Leave the door open I need to talk to you..'

Sahil shut his mouth at the furious look she gave him. He left her hand and she left the room. Bani had to hold back her tears. She had not expected this from him. She did not think he would cross the limit. She almost ran to her room and cried her heart out.

Not this god not this..' she prayed between her tears.

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kamy