Khamoshi
Jai woke up rubbing his eyes to find Bani standing in front of mirror, wet curly hair, putting Bangles on her wrist. She was so into her world that she didn't realise when Jai sat on the bed, resting his back on headboard and was now staring at her. Slowly she put her earrings and was going to put vermillion powder on her parting, when she found Jai's eye on her. Both looked at one another for a second through mirror but Bani dropped her eyelid. Jai got up from bed and went to the bathroom.
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"Tony yeh flowers murjha gae he ise change kardo?" Bani was directing Tony when Masi came from behind.
"Bani beta, nasta tayaar ho gaya?"
"Ji masi" Bani answered bending to ouch Masi's foot, her daily morning ritual.
"Sada suhaagan rahe, ja jake Jai ko bulala naaste ke liye warna kal ki tarha phir bina lhae chala jaega."
"Ji masi."
Bani went in to her room to find her husband dressed up in his business suit busy talking with someone in the phone. Not to disturb him she started making the bed.
"Ha ha main samajh gaya kal subah ki karwa do. Thik he main aapse office main ake milta hoon." Saying that he disconnected the phone.
"Mr. Walia breakfast ready he, masi bula rahi he"
He simply nodded his head and with last look at the mirror he went down.
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Everyone was having their breakfast, chatting up a bit here and there. Tony was serving everyone. Jai was on the centre of the table, buttering his toast and Bani on his right eating slowly.
"Masi Mr. Mehta ka phone aaya tha, abhi 10 minute pehle, mujhe office ke silsilay me London jana padega."
Everyone stopped eating and was looking at Jai.
"Kab jana padega beta aur kitne dino ke liye?"
"Ticket kal subah ki he aur sayad" he paused "do mahine ke liye jana padega" said looking at Bani who looked at him at the same time after listening the time he is going for. Her hand stopped mid way for few seconds and she started eating again.
"Do mahine ke liye? aur wo bhi es waqt, abhi to bahut thand he na waha pe."
"Ha masi thand to bohut he aur TV par dikha rahe the waha to snow bhi par rah he abhi" said Aditya.
Jai smiled a bit "Important he masi aur kisi aur ko bhej bhi nahi sakta"
"Theek he beta, lekin bahu ko to saath me le ja raha he na apne saath? Tere bina kya karegi yaha akele?" Both of them looked at one another again after hearing masi.
Jai cleared his throat and said, "Masi me waha din raat meeting me busy rahoonga, Bani bore ho jaegi, yaha to phir bhi dusre family members hain."
Bani after finishing her breakfast slowly got off the chair and went inside the kitchen to finish her rest of the work.
"Aditya tumhara ho gaya?" asked Jai wiping his mouth with the napkin.
"Masi Bani se mere liye bag pack karne ke liye kah dijiyega" said Jai knowing very well that Bani can hear him from kitchen.
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Whole day was spent on preparing for Jai's departure, packing his bag, cooking some of his favourite foods to take with him so that he won't miss India. Masi was directing everything and Bani and Tony was doing everything. Its nearly 11 now, everyone gone to sleep and Bani is waiting for Jai to arrive. He had called earlier to inform that he is going to be late as he had to finish off everything before leaving tomorrow. Bani was half laying on the bad, closing her eyes and a book on her hand. Hearing the horn outside Bani opened her eyes, she went to the window, where she saw Jai's car coming inside the gate. She switched the lights on of the room when Jai entered the room.
"Abhi tak soyi nahi Bani?"
"Aap ne khana khaya Mr. Walia?
"Nahin lekin Tony he na, tum kyu jag rahi ho"
"aaj akhri raat he Mr. Walia socha saath me dinner kar le, kya pata do mahine baad jab aap wapas aaenge main yaha rahungi ki nahin" said Bani smiling at him sadly.
Jai looked at her for sometime "ha phir ye pal ye raat rahengi ki nahin. Tum khaha garam karo main fresh hokar aata hoon." Saying that he went inside the bathroom tugging his tie.
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When Jai came down everything was on the table and Bani was pouring water glass on the table. Jai sat on his chair and Bani started serving him.
"Tum bhi ho khayo Bani."
"Ha pehle aap ko paros loon"
Bani and Jai then quietly started having their dinner. No one said anything to another.
"Aap upar sone jae ye Mr. Walia me table clear karke aati hoon.
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Fifteen minutes later when Bani went to her bedroom Jai was already in a deep sleep because of his tiredness. Bani changed to her night clothes and stood in front of Jai, staring at him. She arranged his blanket properly around him, his pillow and was going to caress his hair but stopped midway just staring at his face, listening to his deep breathing. She went to her side of bed and laid down facing him. Bani slowly stretched her hand and kept her fingers on jai's bent hand. As soon as she did that, Jai held her hand tight, which broke a sob from her and she put her face on the pillow to subside her sound.
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"Masi me janta hoon sayad mere aane tak aap Chandigard ja chuki hongi phir bhi aasha karta hoon ki an eke baad aap ki ghar me bhi pau" saying that he bent down to touch her foot as a goodbye.
One by one he bid his goodbye to everyone and stood in front of Bani, who was quieyly looking at everything holding a plate with yogurt in a bowl.
"Bahu Jai ko dahi khilade"
She did tika on her forehead and slowly lifted the spoon to feed with shaky hand but couldn't and her hand stopped halfway. Tears formed on her eyes, which she was trying to stop biting inside her cheek. Jai held her hand and brought the spoon to his lips. With final wave he sat inside the car and made his way toward the airport.
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Bani was crying lying on the bed when someone opened the door. Rano maine kaha na mera sar dard kar raha he mujhe disturb mat karna phir kyu aae." said Bani in hoarse voice.
"Bani"
Bani jerked up and looked at Jai, surprised to see him, when just 30 minutes ago she had bid him bye. She hurriedly wiped her face and stood facing him
"Kya baat he Mr. Walia, aap? Kuch chhut gaya kya?"
"Ha tumhare kal ke kahe huye baton ne ehsaas dila ya ki mera bahut important cheez chhut raha he."
"Important? Almari me he kya?" saying that she went to search the wardrobe when she found Jai's hand on her shoulder stopping her.
"Mere saath chalogi na Bani?" asked Jai. She turned around and looked at him. She tried saying something to him but words didn't come out instead she started crying like a baby and Jai took her in his arms.
"aap…app bohut bure he"
THE END
Oh god, I just hate writing, so many times I can't think of proper word to describe the emotion the character is feeling at that time or what I am thinking. Still I hope you people liked it.
Cricket
Anupamaa
