FF kaise kahoon last chp on pg 11 updated 17thsep - Page 3

Chapter 5

Bani was stunned at the sight of the office building. It was grander than she had expected. It was 4 storeys. She read the name board. 'Walia Group of industries"

'This is all yours?' she asked looking at him as he stopped the car before the building.

'A family business. Come on..' he got out and she followed him in. she saw his staff greet him with respect. He walked to the elevator she followed him. The elevator stopped at the 4^th floor. She followed him like puppy. On the way she saw people look at her in wonder. He was at the door. She read the name plate on the door. 'Jai Walia.' the name struck some chord in her brain. He opened the door and she followed him in.

His office was the most elegantly furnished room she had ever set her eyes into. She had no idea if she had seen something like this before. She looked around her in utter amazement.

She heard him speak on the intercom. 'Mahesh please come in ask Radhika to come in too.'

He turned to her. She was looking around with fascination. 'Like my office?' he asked.

She blinked. 'It's beautiful… you.. er.. are an important man right… a busy man I mean you must be trapped with the situation with me I am sorry to be a nuisance..'

'Important? I don't know Bani how important I am but my business and my life everything is important to me. A busy man .. I don't know may be I am if you ask my Masi she would say yes..' when he spoke about his mausi she noticed his eyes brightened. ' and the trapped situation.. I am the reason you are in trouble the least I can do is owe up to my responsibilities.'

'You can't blame yourself for this… what was I doing in the middle of nowhere it is because of your goodness you did not leave me on the road to die. If someone was in your place…'

'It was….' Before he could complete the door opened and Mahesh stuck his head.

'Come in.' he called him in.

'Radhika followed him and looked at Bani.

'Radhika this is Bani dixit. she will be working for us from now on. You can show her the work you do and she can learn from you.'

'You planning to sack me Mr. Walia?' asked Radhika shocking Bani.

'Well No…' he chuckled. 'Bani here wanted to learn some office work.'

'Then why my work I can't teach someone who can go against me in future.'

'Don't jump the gun Radhika. You are not going anywhere take Bani with you and show her around.'

'Yes sir.' Smiled Radhika she had the freedom to talk to Jai in any manner she liked they shared a good rapport. Mahesh and Bani looked at her.

Radhika turned to Bani who looked at her with apprehension. Radhika winked at her and Bani face broke into a smile. She took Bani out of his hands.

Mahesh saw the ladies out and grinned at him. 'Well there's one more problem the builders are adamant on their quote what do we do?'

'We will use a new tactic.' Said Jai rubbing his Jaw. 'Get Mr. Bali on the line for me. He will deal with them now.'

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Bani felt at ease with Radhika. Radhika took her for a tour in the building introduced her to some staff. Took her to her desk and showed her basic things about her work. Bani got busy with her the rest of the day. it wasn't difficult as she had thought earlier. Radhika took her for lunch and told next time it would be her treat. Bani liked her she was blunt and straight forward. They had good time. Radhika did not ask Bani about her whereabouts since Jai introduced her to her. In time she learned Bani would tell her about herself. The girl looked pre occupied at times. The day went fine for them.

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Jai reached home around 7pm. Dai ma saw him and looked behind him. when she did not find Bani she asked, "Munna where's Bani?'

'Oh My God !' he kept his hand on his head. "I forgot about her dai ma.. I'll be back..' he turned and left quickly. He had forgotten about her. the day was too hectic after the meeting he wanted to come and relax he did not go to the office back. He did not tell her to go home he did not co ordinate with her. he couldn't reach her. Radhika might have left he pulled the cell from the pocket and dialed her land number. The phone kept ringing finally he heard a small voice. 'Hello..'

'Bani is that you?'

'Yes…'

'Stay there I am on my way.' He disconnected the call cursing him for forgetting her. she was his responsibility. He had no idea about her mental status. What she knew and what she did not.

He reached the building the guard saluted him he strode up and saw her sitting alone in Radhika's office. He breathed a sigh of relief. She got up seeing him. 'I am sorry Bani. it just slipped my mind that you had come with me to the office.'

'It's Okay. I am becoming utter nuisance to you.'

'Of course not. I feel terrible I should not forget about your health…' he rubbished her. 'Come along let's go.'

She followed him. once they were seated in the car she said, "you can give me the address of your house you know I can write it down. I can get back my own. How long you will tag me along.' She felt awful. She was scared in the office thinking about her situation she had no idea about the place he lived. She had not asked about his street. She did not have his number she was trapped in the office.

He felt awful. 'yes Bani I'll give you the address you can come and go as you please but are you ready to go out alone?'

'hm… '

'Let us see what we can do about it.' he assured her.

Bani was not out of the shock she had been in the office. She thanked god he remembered her in time.

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Dai ma served the tea. Bani went to freshen up. She had dinner quietly with him.

The next day Jai got her a cell phone. He saved his name on the cell and told her if she was in trouble she can always give him a call. He gave her the box and asked her to go through the manual. Bani felt awful. She was becoming a head ache for him she thought. He was too caring.

In few days Bani picked up the office work. Radhika was impressed. She had given her feed backs about Bani to Jai. Like Jai had said he wrote and gave the address of his house but he made sure he took her back home in time. Bani knew she was becoming a burden. She did not want to take advantage of his generosity. She would speak to him about moving out. She can take care of herself she had come home on her own one day hiring an auto rickshaw.

On Sundays she helped around the house. She helped dai ma at cooking. She helped the gardner and she enjoyed doing it. at times she had visions of doing work in her own garden when she tried to think about it more she got head ache. Few people who helped in the house liked the new girl. They chatted with her shared their worries with her and Bani felt being a part of them. she had only heard about his Mausi and sister she had never seen them. One day she was having her breakfast with him his phone buzzed. His face brightened as he picked up the call. She heard him speak on the phone and knew it was his Mausi. A minute later she noticed him being quiet and saying yes and no. he finally kept the phone and looked at her.

'It was Mausi. She has heard from someone I am living with a woman.'

Bani choked on her food.

'You fine?' he asked handing her water. She nodded looking at him. 'Masui is coming here in the evening and Jigyasa my sister too will accompany her. she is little sharp Bani she might say things that will upset you please bear with her. I'll try to make them understand. I'll give Mausi a call after breakfast and tell her what had happened and how you came to stay by..'

Bani heard him quietly. Then she spoke. "I am fine now I can ask Radhika to find a place for me in the hostel she stays. How long you will and besides it's not right me staying and taking advantage of your kindness.'

'Hm.. we will think about it.' is all he said.

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Jai couldn't think about Bani leaving she has become a part of his life like his sister and Mausi. He felt responsible for her like them. He had never taken care of anyone like her. she had been a well behaved girl he had come across. She had brightened his house. She took care of the entire pole who worked in the house. He had never spared a minute for them. It was the other day he saw her talking to the gardener with love and warmth joking with him helping with weeds and planting new plants. He had sat in his car for few minutes watching her work with him.

He had no idea how he was going to talk to Mausi and tell her about Bani. he made a drink and sat to watch TV.

Bani walked around the house. She wanted it be spic and span before his family came to visit them. She dusted and cleaned all the small show pieces and looked around. A frame on the wall was hanging a bit out of place. She went and got a stool from the kitchen got on it to correct the frame. As she tried the frame hung the same position. She muttered and tried to straighten it.

Jai who got bored of the TV program walked to his room. On his way he saw her on the stool trying to arrange the frame. She corrected the frame got down stepped backward and looked at it. it was tad bit slanted she got on the stool again to correct it.

'It's fine now.' She heard his masculine voice. She slipped from the stool startled. Before she landed on the floor he caught her by the waist. 'I am sorry for startling you Bani.' he said holding her in his arms and looking into her eyes. for a fraction of moment their eyes met. She looked away blushing and shrugging off from his arms. He let her go.

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It was in the late afternoon Masui and Jigyasa walked into the house. Bani heard the vehicle screeching to a halt and she knew who the people were. She remained in her room.

An elderly lady who was dressed in pale blue color sari stood before him looking into his deep eyes. his sister threw him a look and sat down on the settee waiting for him to give them explanation.

Dai ma..' he had called the lady. The woman ran to him smiled at Mausi and Jigyasa .

'Dai ma get them something to eat and drink.'

'No Yashoda I have come to know few things about my son eating and drinking can wait.' She said looking at her Munna.

Jai signaled the lady to go. Jigyasa'a eyes screened the room. She wanted to get up and look for the girl staying with her brother. She was dying of curiosity. She wanted to hear her brother speak too. She decided to sit back and listen to what he had to stay.

Jai took a seat before his Mausi and took her hand in his. 'Mausi what I am going to tell you is nothing but the truth..' the lady looked into his eyes. Yes she would trust him her munna would never do anything wrong. Jai began from the time of the accident taking her to the hospital and asking Dr. Sharma to take care of her and even the involvement of Rama Aunty. Masui and Jigyasa heard him and looked at each other.

'Now tell me how can I send her away from here? And where will I send her in this condition? I have no idea about her ability to remember anything I have no idea if this situation is temporary? She has no one Mausi I did a thorough investigation. Her father died few days before the accident. Now you guys tell me what I have done is wrong?'

'But Jai what would people say when they learn you are staying with an unmarried girl? It will affect both of you son. Don't you understand?'

'I don't care about people mausi I care about the responsibility. I am the reason for this misfortune that has happened to her. How can I ignore that?'

'Yes son but… it's more complicated than you think.'

'You sure Jai she is not taking advantage of you? You said she is an orphan may be all this is a pretense.' Asked Jigyasa.

'You think I am fool Di? Do I look like one?' Jigyasa couldn't hold her gaze with him.

'Anything can happen brother? You don't know about people well I like to see her where she is?'

Jai got up from the settee and went to call her.

Story going on nicely, Kamy...so will Jigs and Maasi like Bani? Their munna does!