FF Before the storm ch40pg76.updtd 23rd aug - Page 8

Chapter 8

Aditya was unaware of Jigyasa's plan. She had called one of her brothers and spoke to him about their mother and Aditya's latest behavior. First she spoke to Maheshwar. Maheshwar dismissed her saying he would come around and she need not have to take a drastic step as sending her mother away and agitating Aditya. She fought with him and called her second brother. Rajeshwar had to take his mother's responsibility unwillingly.

Jigyasa had walked to the living room and spoke for Aditya to hear. 'Raju bahi is taking Ma home Pia and our head ache will too leave with her.'

Aditya sat on the chair alert. He heard his wife again. 'Bani will go with her and if Bahi refused to take her she can go to where ever she wants.'

Bani heard her from the kitchen she looked shocked. Her mother was sending her away from the house for the reason she was helping her husband? She looked heavenwards. Why was her mother so unreasonable? Her thoughts were interrupted by Aditya's sound. She stood alert. She had been watching the cold war between them.

'Your brother can take his mother any time he wants. Bani will not leave this house.' He thundered.

Bani stood stunned. Why was he defying his wife for her? She knew he liked her. She had seen the affection he has on her but her mother was his wife…

Jigyasa looked furiously at him. 'Bani will leave with mother. You have brought her to look after her…'

'I need her. She takes good care of me……I need her assistance.' Aditya said.

Jigyasa smirked, 'what is it with you Aditya? She is a servant. You are fighting with your wife for a mere a servant? She said with disbelief.

'You are being unreasonable Jigyasa. I told you I need her as of now…'

Bani shut her ears. "God what's happening. She was ruining a family here. She will talk to Aditya sir and leave the house she decided. Bani saw Jigyasa storm into the kitchen and hold her tight in her arms with fire in her eyes to burn Bani then and there.

'What Khala jadu have you done on my husband you little… get out of here.. you hear me Bani get the hell out of here…' she dropped her hand and marched out of the kitchen. Bani couldn't hold back her tears. 'What was her mother talking about? If only she knew whom she was talking to…. Bani forgave her in her heart of heart. She was ignorant. She doesn't know she was accusing her own flesh and blood.

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Rajeshwar and his wife came to Jigyasa's house the next day. His wife was not very happy to take her mother-in-law with them but she feared Jigyasa's tongue, when It came to their sister the brother's were spineless.

Mamta, Rajeshwar's wife went to her mother-in-law.

Jigyasa and her brother spoke in lengths.

Aditya did not come down to meet her brother knowing very well what was cooking up down stairs.

Mamta spoke to Saraswati about Bani. She told her in no nonsense tone she was not willing to take the girl. She has two grown up boys and she did not want any headache in their house regarding her. Since Jigyasa was talking about her and Aditya Mamta had made up her mind not to take her. She told the woman they had arranged for an elderly lady to take care of her. Saraswati did not comment. Her children had decided her fate she had no saying in it. She was sure she would miss Bani and her care but she was little upset with her for sowing a doubt in her daughter's mind about her husband. If Bani had taken care nothing of this would have happened. She spoke less to Bani. Bani was upset and hurt. She did not come here to create chaos in this household. She couldn't bear this was happening because of her.

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Aditya had called Jai to come home with the letter. Jai was unsure what was going to happen in the house. He prayed to god to give strength to everyone when the truth came out.

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Aditya refused to meet Rajeshwar. He feigned headache and stayed away from any conversation. Jigyasa fumed all the more at his behavior. Aditya did not come down to see Saraswati off which hurt the woman very much. As they were getting to the car Jai's car came to a stop before them. He got out saw Saraswati and walked towards her. He saw the woman's eyes fill. He acknowledged every one with a nod and went and held saraswati's hand. 'beta I am going … ask Aditya what wrong I have done to him that he did not come down to see me off…' she couldn't continue she broke down in to tears. Rajeshwar held his mother and said, 'pata nahin ma.. Aditya… well leave it… may be he will come around…' he nodded at Jai and got in to the car after his mother. Jai saw his mami. She was standing with her children on the porch stone faced.

The car left carrying them. Jigyasa and her children walked in. Jai noticed their face everyone looked disturbed.

He followed them in and Jigyasa turned over her shoulder and said, 'you are close to Aditya what is wrong with him Jai? He is fighting for that mere girl.. cheee….' She turned and walked into her room.

Jai stopped as Pia looked at him. 'where's your papa?'

'Upstairs bhai… pata nahin what's going on in here I would just like to get out of this hell now..'

Jai did not know what to say. He walked upstairs. He knocked on the door and went in. he heard Pia shut her door with a bang.

Adi looked at him and sat on the bed.

'so? Everyone left?'

He nodded. He took the envelope and gave it to Aditya.

Jai did not know what to say to him. how he was going to advice him. 'Mamu I have an appointment in half an hour….'

'Yes Jai.. you may go…'

Jai was about to leave his room he heard a knock on the door. They looked up as Bani stood at the door hesitantly.

Jai was seeing her for the first time after learning the truth. He looked at her small figure. She looked more hesitant seeing him in the room. He turned and looked at Aditya.

'Yes Bani..' said Aditya looking at her.

'Sir, I ….er……. will come back later… I'll get tea.' She said throwing Jai a look.

''Er No I am leaving…' Jai said nodded at his uncle and left the room.

Bani stood at the door not moving.

'Bani,, come in.'

Bani stepped in. 'sir, I …' she cleared her sound. 'sir can you give dai ma a call and tell her that I will be joining her soon..'

Aditya frowned looking at her and that made her more nervous.

'Sir madam want me to go and I thought I'll ask you and leave…'

'You are not going anywhere Bani….' he said with finality

Bani shook her head. 'No sir you don't understand madam thinks I am…. That is you…' she wet her lips not able to say more.

'Madam is crazy…' she is shutting her eyes to the truth….'

Bani shook her head, 'Sir, I don't want you both fighting because of me I am just a servant and if my being here causes problems …. I don't want to be reason for her anger towards you sir.. you do understand..'

'No Bani you are not leaving anywhere I brought you home you will stay here till I tell you to stay…'

'Not at the cost of your life sir, not at the cost of family life.. either you call dai ma or let me go from here with clear mind..'

'My asking to stay here doesn't mean anything to you Bani? is that it?' he did not take his eyes off from her face.

Her face tightened. She looked away. 'It does that's the reason I want you to let me go..'

Aditya did not know how to make her understand. He shook his head and asked, "do you think you are the problem Bani? absolutely not… do you honestly expect Jigyasa will take a different approach towards the situation when you are gone? No my dear, no such things are going to happen in this house. She will be the same woman..'

Bani knew the truth….. he was telling her the truth. But her mother was linking the two of them which Bani could not bear. This was…….

'I know what you are thinking you are agreeing with me. I want you here I want my children to learn things from you. They have seen only their mother's bossy nature, her demands and attention. I want them to see life in a different way…'

Bani looked at him stunned. What was he saying? He want his children to learn from her from a maid what their mother couldn't instill in them? How absurd is that?

Bani…. stay..'

'No..' she have made up her mind.

Aditya looked at her stubborn face. 'So you too are failing me?'

'you don't know sir, my being here will only complicate things…'

Aditya laughed. 'It was a mess from the beginning Bani. it did not blow before because I kept my self shut. Now I have no intention to do that. I won't let her rule. She should now know that everyone in the house has their own mind. They have their likes and dislikes.'

'But sir..' Bani was at a loss.

'Don't we all mean anything to you?' the way Aditya asked Bani stared at him. 'we are just an employer to you Bani?'

'No sir, but the truth is you bought me to look after madam now she is gone and I don't have…..'

'I brought you here to do just that but as the days went by I came to know something ….'

Bani looked at him with nervousness. She saw him walk towards a shelf pull out an envelope. He took that and stood before her. she watched him take a paper from the envelope. She almost died of shock as the realization struck her. A storm roared and gathered her. Her eyes popped out, she took a step backward and hit her back on the wall. Aditya's gaze never left her face. It was the same shock when he read about the contents in the letter. She was going through a same kind of emotions, he felt her fear, her concern, and her pain. He took a step forward and touched her shoulder.

'Bani…the letter returned not finding the addressee.'

Bani couldn't breathe. She looked at him in shock. What has she done? She broke the promise. She had destroyed their life. She had separated a husband and wife. She had ruined everything.. her eyes filled blurring her vision. She had caused a man his life. The man before her suffered an attack because of her. A heart wrenching cry escaped her. she slumped on the floor trying to control her.

Aditya watched her and he got dosn on his knees before her.

'Bani…'

She looked him with tearful eyes. 'I . am sorry…' she whispered.

'I am sorry too'.

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kamy