FF:Forces of Love: Ch 5 Updated (02/05/2010) - Page 4

the last line has left us at tenterhooks!

That was a great part, but you seriously had to end there? Please write more, but do focus on your studies.

WHAT, thats not a place to end a part u know :P

Recap:

'Then why have you broken your vow and come here today?' she asked instead.

He considered her slowly and deliberately before he answered.

'To look for a wife,' he replied, and cocked a quizzical eyebrow at her. 'Interested?'

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Again anger scorched through her like a flame. She gathered the bouquet in her hand and stood up.

'Now I'm sure you've had more than enough!'

His hand grasped her elbow again and she was forced to sit down on the cushioned seat.

'You'll have everyone looking at us again if you behave like that,' he cautioned mockingly, 'and you know how much you dislike drawing attention to yourself. Besides, I haven't told you about your mother yet.'

Out of the corner of her eyes Bani could see that Reeva Aunty was gradually approaching the window seat, stopping every so often to talk graciously to guests.

'Relax,' murmured her companion. 'I'll behave, and I'll deal with your aunt when she comes.'

He noticed too much, she decided, but she leaned back and fiddled with the bouquet. The petals of one rose fell suddenly and lay like crimson drops of blood on the aquamarine sheen of her sari.

'Was my mother a very good dancer?' she asked hesitantly.

'To my ten-year-old eyes she was the perfect Juliet, slight and graceful with a cloud of dark hair,' he answered soberly. 'It was my first visit to the ballet ' or to any theatre for that matter. My mother is an English and Hindi Literature buff, as you might gather from the names she gave to her three sons ({Jai ' meaning Victory} & {Pushkar ' meaning The Blue Lotus- Also a name of Lord Shiva/ Born from to blue lotus}). My youngest brother was christened Ranveer (meaning The brave, brave warrior). That year she decided to take Pushkar and me with her on her annual pilgrimage to the Mumbai theatre. The ballet was thrown in for a good measure because it was Romeo and Juliet, and also because she knew your mother. They both came from the same part of Mumbai. Did you ever see her dance?'

'Not that I can remember. I was only five when she died. How did you know I'm her daughter?'

'Your uncle told me. When I saw you come into the Inn this morning I thought I was seeing things. You resembled her very much, and I was sure you were related to her. So at the earliest opportunity I asked Chetan about you and he told me the whole sad story, how both your parents were killed when they were staying with friends on a sea-going yacht at Goa. I believe it was a gas explosion, wasn't it? He also told me that he'd brought you up as if you were one of his own daughters.'

'Yes, Chetan Uncle has always been very kind. He has a great sense of family,' she replied woodenly.

'More credit to him then. But why did you leave his home to fend for yourself?'

How could she tell him of the unhappy years she had endured living with Reeva Aunty? How could she describe Reeva Aunty's subtle form of cruelty to her, which were the outcome of jealousy of the beautiful unconventional Kiran who had married the equally unconventional Nishikant Dixit, music-lover and critic for a leading newspaper?

'Have you ever felt rebellious?' she asked

'Not only have I felt rebellious but I've rebelled many times during my life. But you don't look as if you have an ounce of rebellion in you.' He glanced at Reeva Aunty and his eyes twinkled wickedly. 'I gather you rebelled against the establishment and ran away. It must have taken a lot of courage.'

'All I had,' she agreed, and experienced a strange warmth because for the second time he had understood and appreciated her feelings.

'Where did you go?'

'To Mumbai, to see my mother's old ballet teacher. I'd always longed to dance ballet, but neither Chetan Uncle nor Reeva Aunty encouraged me. When I left school I was sent to a secretarial school. It was taken for granted that I would go to work in Uncle's company in gratitude for being given a home and having my education paid for. But when I'd finished my training and I realized what lay before me' something burst inside. I couldn't stay any longer with them.'

'So what did you do?'

'Madame Annabelle told me I was too old to train as a dancer. She ran a rather select ballet school, and she took me on as an assistant to her overworked secretary.' She pause a moment, then added in a sad little voice, 'I was there until Madame Annabelle died quite suddenly three weeks ago.'

'What happened to the school?' His voice was sharp, interested.

'It's been closed. I've been trying to find another similar position, but it isn't easy. I'm not really a secretary type of person, but I enjoyed the work at the school because being involved with ballet made it seem worthwhile.'

She was aware of a flash of navy blue and white. Reeva Aunty was on her way towards them.

'Mr. Walia,' she whispered urgently, 'please don't say anything to my aunt or my cousins about me not having a job. I have reasons for not wanting them to know.'

He nodded absently as if he was thinking of something else, and the warmth she had felt faded. He had lost interest in her problem and she was out in the cold again, on her own.

'Where do you live?' The quick question startled her.

'Mumbai ' in a chawl. I moved there when the school was closed.'

'Living in a grimy little bed-sitter, no doubt,' he remarked scathingly. 'How would you like to live in a Castle'? I'll drive you back to town and tell you about it.'

'Oh no I couldn't! I wouldn't dream of imposing on you,' she began.

'Now, Bani, you mustn't monopolize Mr.Walia,' Reeva Aunty's throaty voice oozed sweetness. 'I'm sure there are many other people here whom he would like to meet. Remember always, Bani, that it's good manners to circulate at a party. That way no one ever gets bored with your brand of conversation. Don't you agree, Mr. Walia?'

While Bani cringed over the poor wilted bouquet, Jai had risen politely to his feet. He regarded Reeva Aunty with cold eyes.

yeah finally an update

Please do continue soon. This is interesting.

Thanks for the update. The story is getting interested.

Please continue soon.

wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice update👏 plz. plz. plz. do cont. soon dying to know what jai says to reeva

u hv to cont asap- jw has to defend bani!