FF Before the storm ch40pg76.updtd 23rd aug - Page 5

Chapter 5

Aditya was too tired from work. The house was unusually quiet. He saw his little one sitting in a corner lost in thoughts. Aditya walked up to her. Anu looked up at him and tears started flowing.

'What happened he asked sitting down beside her. 'Papa ma aur di Bani di ko..'

Aditya's face formed into a scowl. 'what happened?'

'Adi…' called Jigyasa. 'what are you doing? Asking the small one what has happened?

'Jigyasa mind your tongue don't you talk to me in that tone.' he raised his voice. Jigyasa gave a smile. 'well I'll tell you what happened the girl you brought to look after ma is a thief she took money from our drawer again.'

'Did you see her taking it?' he couldn't stop asking her that.

Jigyasa scowled. 'You are siding a maid Adi kuch tho sharam karo?'

Sharam karo/ kaisa sharam my wife? Did you and Pia see her taking the money from the drawer?'

'Who else would have taken it then? Did you take it?' she asked sarcastically. Aditya saw Anu standing with fearful eyes. 'beta thum jao apne kamre mein.'

Anu got up and left to her room. Aditya turned to his wife. 'How dare you talk to me in that tone?'

Adi please …. Don't you start. She is the one who took money from the drawer I know….'I want you to send her back.

Aditya sighed. 'send her back where? What about your mother? You ready to resign and look after her?' he was little sarcastic.

'Resign? Why the hell should I resign? I'll bring someone else to look after her and I have been noticing it lately why do you take her side Aditya Bali what is she have that you?'

Aditya looked at her with irritation and marched to his room. Jigyasa followed him.

'Adi I am telling you I won't keep her here she is back answering me and I want her out.'

Aditya turned to her and looked straight in her eyes. 'why can't you see the changes she brought in this house? This house is like a house now. She does good housekeeping looks after your mother keep eyes on our children what more you want?' he tried to reason with her..

'I want her out. Out from this house out of my sight.' Saying that she stormed off.

Saraswati refused to eat dinner that night. Jigyasa ordered Bani not to touch anything in the kitchen she was fired. The cook grumbled and made the food Bani kept her away from the kitchen.

Bani walked to saraswati's room and the woman looked angrily at her.

'what did you do to get in the bad books of Jigyasa?'

Bani looked away. 'Come here.' Called the woman. Bani walked towards her and looked at her.

'Tell her you are sorry you would never do something as such. She will let you to stay in here.'

Bani shook her head. 'Madam I did not steal. I am not a thief.' She said looking straight in her eyes.

'I know beta but you can just tell her ….'

'I did not steal madam. I'll not owe up to the mistake I haven't done.' She was stubborn.

'Then it's good bye right. I would really miss you child.' She said. Bani did not respond.

Aditya hardly ate anything. Jigyasa ignored him and her youngest child. Sahil and Pia exchanged glances, they were happy Bani was going. She was snooping too much thought Pia Just the other day she had given her bhashan for taking Kishore to her room to talk when Jigyasa and Aditya were not at home.

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Aditya spoke to Jigyasa after dinner about Bani' s dismissal. He sat down with her on the bed and said, 'Jigyasa I have a certain responsibilities regarding Bani. I promised to take care of her. I'll need a good answer to give it to her dai ma.

'Tell her she is a thief.' Snapped Jigyasa. Aditya shook his head helplessly. 'look jigs I have no time to take her back and besides you will have to find a new one when she goes you know finding a new maid is not very easy. Your mother needs attention which you or your daughter can not give. Think before you decided. Hasty decisions are never correct. I don't have anything else to say in this matter. You know better. All I want to tell you is I can't send her back now for her dai ma is not in that place right now she is gone for theerth….' He closed his eyes switching off the side table lamp. Jigyasa looked at him and she lied down on her side of the bed.

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Jigyasa behaved as if nothing happened. Bani continued doing her job and Pia and Sahil who were waiting for the good news to happened looked at their mother for an answer.

'Ma, what is happening are you not sending her away?'

'What will you do with your nani? Will you take care of her?' snapped Jigyasa. Pia kept her silence and returned to her room sahil stormed off angrily.

Saraswati heaved a sigh of relief.

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Bani got down to write a letter to her dai ma. She wrote about her life in Bali home. She wrote about Sahil about Pia and about Anu and Aditya Saraswati. At the end of the letter she wrote about her mother Jigyasa. Stating how could her mother behave the way she was doing? And was she sure Jigyasa Bali was her own mother? She wrote good thi9ngs and as well as heart wrenching experiences she had to face in the household. Bani sealed the letter properly wrote down the address and went to post after finishing her work in the house.

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Bani's days did not improve any further. Sahil ridiculed her at given chances and Pia insulted her every time Bani appeared before her. she couldn't believe this was her family.

One fine day Bani decided to correct the things that were going in the house. Sahil was after all her brother and Pia her sister and Jigyasa her mother. However they insulted she decided to ignore the hurtful things and win them by love and patience. Anu was fine and was Saraswati and Aditya.

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Saraswati held Bani's shoulder and took few steps and looked at her. 'Now I can walk Bani thanks to you.'

Bani smiled. She opened the door for her and held her hand. 'come out side Madam… we will take a stroll outside.'

'Yes I would want to do that I have been sitting in the room for a longer time.' Sarswati took cautious steps outside. Pia saw her Nani come out of the room with the help of Bani at the sight of Bani she made a face and buried her face in the magazine. Aditya smiled giving her a nod.

'Ma.. aap tho abh chal sakthi ho?' he said.

'Yes Adi it's all because of this girl.' Said Saraswati walking into the porch.

Bani stopped before her and asked, 'you fine Madam? Can you take few more steps?'

'Yes.'

Their attention turned to the car that stopped before them as Bani watched the person he got off from the car and looked at Saraswati shocked.

'Aunty.. what a surprise you are walking again…' said Jai and walked towards her.

Saraswati's face lit up at the sight of him. 'what jai you are making me feel like a toddler these are not my first steps..'

Jai laughed along with her. 'I am so glad to see the tigress back.' He commented.

'It's her, her dedication and patience.' Said Saraswati looking at Bani. Jai looked at her and nodded. The same girl he thought. Mami never kept anyone longer than a month or two either they left or mami fired them.

'Jai you go inside, Adi and the kids are in. your tea will come in few minutes.'

'No aunty tea can wait.. you continue with the exercise.

Saraswati nodded. Jai walked in and Bani turned her attention to the woman. Bani watched as the lady walked slowly taking cautious steps. In another minutes a car screeched and stopped in the porch Saraswati lost her balance and fell on the floor. Bani ran to her calling out to her. Jigyasa opened the door of the car hurriedly and stepped out. She ran to her mother and looked at Bani and her mother in shock.

'You took her out side?' she shouted at Bani. 'did you not know she cannot walk alone? She cannot be left alone? You…. In fit of anger she slapped Bani hard on her face shocking Saraswati Adi and Jai who had come to the porch hearing the commotion.

Bani felt a lightening her struck her. she touched her cheek where her mother's had left and looked aghast. Jai looked at the girl and he felt sorry for her. He watched as a tear cloud her saucer eyes.

Aditya walked hurriedly to them and looked at Bani. his eyes pleaded with her told her sorry for what his wife had done. She looked away trying to lift the woman carefully from the ground.

'Jigyasa the fault was not her's I lost my concentration at the screeching sound of your vehicle.' the lady managed to say.

Jigyasa ignored her and tried to help her get up. She couldn't get up Aditya stepped to carry her in his arms. Jai walked down the steps moved his uncle and looked at the ladies.

'I'll carry her.. muje bhi tho milne chahiyein ek khoobsoorath ladki ko godh mein utanei ka chance.' He winked at Saraswati making the situation light. Jigyasa and Bani moved. He carried her easily and walked inside the house to her room. Every one followed them to the room. Jai put her on the bed and sat beside her.

'Ma you okay?' asked Jigyasa.

The lady nodded. 'I am fine Bani bring me something to drink and Jai's tea too.' She said looking at distraught Bani.

Bani did not move she stood and looked at the woman. She couldn't bear if anything happened to her.

Adi tugged on Jigyasa's hand before she could open her mouth and say something. Jigyasa threw him a furious glance and left the room Adi followed her. Jai watched the silent scene between his mama and his wife he chose to ignore it. his attention turned to the girl before him. her eyes were brimming with tears her cheeks had turned red at the impact of Jigyasa's slap.

'Come here, Saraswati held her hand. Bani stood before her. 'I am sorry…' she murmured.

'it was not your fault. It was my daughter's fault now be a good girl go get what I have asked for.'

Bani nodded and left the room. Jai saw her leave the room he turned his attention to the lady and smiled.

'you are very fond of her aren't you?'

'Hm. She is the best Jai. I have never come across anyone who has this patience and dedication. She is… well…. Thank you for carrying me.' She smiled.

Jai winked at her.

Bani bought him tea and Saraswati her soup. He savored his tea talked to the lady about his family Bani left them to speak he stopped her at the door.

'Thank you for the tea Bani.'

Bani left the room. He was a kind man thought Bani.

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