Thank you so much everyone for your comments. This story is ending so I can continue with Hum Do Humare Baar....
Final Part
JB First Wedding Anniversary…
The large hall of Walia mansion had been decorated in red and gold by the city's best event's management company. A large gold mandap occupied the middle of the floor surrounded by plush red velvet covered chairs. Huge flowers arrangements…white lillies and red roses could be seen everywhere. The hall was a buzz with guests who had been invited to the anniversary party of Jai Walia and his wife.
Masi looking elegant in a dark maroon silk sari, knocked on Jai's bedroom door. "Munna…ready hogaya ki nahi…"
Jai sighed and closed his laptop. "Masi…mei ready hoon…abhi aaya."
"Theek mei niche intezaar karti hoon."
Jai stood up and straightened his heavy cream coloured sherwani. He was sweating already under it despite the ac. Today's event was entirely dictated by his masi…who had declared that since she missed her munna's wedding, they would have the wedding again and this time without any of the drama that happened last time. Jai wondered where Bani was, Anu and Rano had dragged her away saying that Jai wasn't allowed to look at her while she got ready. He slipped on the red slippers and stepped out of the room to go downstairs. He met Adi who was hovering outside Rano's bedroom looking nervous.
"Hi Adi…don't make me wait." Jai teased. Adi made a face, "Yaar…if this girls ever get ready on time than count yourself lucky. Jigyasa is still with the makeup lady. I tell you…who is getting married, she or Bani?"
Jai smiled, "Let her be happy Adi. At least it will keep her out of mischief."
Downstairs Jai shook hands with his guests and chatted with them. Few minutes later the pandit asked Jai to take his set in the mandap. Masi beamed as Jai sat down.
Upstairs Rano put the veil over Bani's face, covering most of her face.
"Rano I can't see anything…" Bani cried out.
Anu and Rano giggled, "That is the idea. Mr Walia has to be made to wait…to take a look at your beautiful face."
Bani pushed the veil up, "Honestly girls…he sees my face everyday…why would I look any different to him today."
"No mami…today…you do not look like everyday girl…today you look gorgeous. I must say you are glowing…must be the baby."
Bani blushed, she was three months pregnant but wasn't showing her bump yet. But she did feel very happy, with the baby coming she would finally have her own family.
There was a knock on the door, "Who is it?" Anu shouted.
"Me…can I come in?" familiar voice of Tarun asked.
"Yes…only you…nobody else." Anu replied.
Tarun pushed the door opened and came in. Looking extremely sexy in midnight blue sherwani with a hint of silver around the neckline and sleeves.
Anu whistled, "Wow…Tarun uncle…you are going to have women chasing you today. Looking to get hitched too…are you?"
"yeah…today Bani has to find me a wife…I am sick of going on dates with girls who are only interested in how heavy my wallet is…I just want a simple Mt Abu girl…just like her."
Bani stood up and gave Tarun a light hug. "That is a tall order Mr Sablok…all my friends are married…and I would have to go Mt Abu to search for one."
Tarun gave a deep sigh, "Never mind Mrs Walia…you are looking gorgeous today…pity I can't elope with you. Someone is waiting very impatiently for you downstairs. I just came to wish you Bani. Really I hope you always as beautiful as today and may your life be filled happiness."
Tears welled up in Bani's eyes. "Thanks Tarun…you will always be my special friend…and I am hoping will become special mamaji to my kids."
Tarun now felt all-emotional. Being an only child he never knew what it was like to have siblings until he met Bani and her sisters and than he wished his career parents had another child…infact another half dozen kids. 'Thanks Bani. I would love to be their mamaji….I hope you will have more than one."
Anu and Rano both giggled as they put finishing touches to their makeup. "Tarun bhaiya believe me Mr Walia is not going to stop at one."
Bani blushed, "Rano…shhh…don't speak like that." Rano rolled her eyes. "Honestly didi…he can't leave you alone for a minute. As soon as he comes home…its every minute…Bani kahaan kho gayi…"
XXXXX
Bani had butterflies in her stomach as Adi walked her down and it wasn't until she sat down next to Jai and he immediately grabbed her hand and held it that she relaxed little bit. They did all the rituals of the wedding and this time around for Bani it felt like a real marriage…not the scared and tearful one she was last time. When Jai lifted her veil to put sindoor in her hair, his eyes held love as Bani gazed back shyly. They took blessings from Masi and dadi and outside where the party was going to be held. The rest of the evening was spent meeting with the guests, dining and dancing. Jai had ordered a special tiered cake, which he cut at midnight and fed Bani a piece and then kissing her immediately as everyone around broke into whoops, whistling and laughter. Bani blushed deep red while Jai smirked and whispered to her, "well I wanted my share of the cake too before the baby gets it all."
The last dance of the night Jai had reserved it for him and Bani and he had chosen the song that he had once sung in his toneless voice to her, "Ek ladki ko dekha…." The song had become their tune now, Jai would often be found humming the tune as he sat in his study late at night. As the first strain of the notes floated in the air, Jai took hold of Bani's hand and led her into the centre of the dance floor. They slow danced, oblivious of the crowd that that watched them.
"Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight Mrs Walia?" Jai asked as his arm rested comfortably on her waist.
"No Mr Walia…you did not. I must say you look dashing too…just like a prince charming. I am sure you broke many hearts today…like every day." Bani answered back, her eyes glittering with laughter.
"As long as I don't break yours Mrs Walia…I don't care about others. Did you like the wedding Bani? I feel as if we really got married today." Jai pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Bani nodded, "Yes…everything meant much more today. I wasn't feeling scared or nervous."
"Good…good…now I think we should go away…you need to rest. We don't want to tire out the baby."
Bani giggled, "I think the baby is fine…it is probably having a peaceful sleep."
"Hmm…is it moving yet? When did the doctor say it would move?"
"Not yet Mr Walia…at five months it starts to move."
"Two more months to wait…I want to be the first to feel it move Bani."
"But Mr Walia…I am the one that is carrying the baby…and I will know it first." Bani gave an answer she knew he would not be happy with.
"Could you tell the baby to wait till I am around when he decides to move…I am sure he will listen to his wonderful mommy and obey."
Bani not could not help laughing, "Seriously Mr Walia…baby hai…I don't know telepathy else I would convey your message that its papa wants to know when you are going to move."
Jai smirked, "I am going to start practicing telepathy from tonight. I will talk to my son…and he will be good boy and listen to his papa."
"A boy…how do you know it is a boy? Did you ask the doctor Mr Walia?"
"No…but I am sure it will be a boy…just like me…a tiny version of me. I mean we have to have a boy so that it can take over the company." Jai replied looking extremely proud.
"Really Mr Walia…and what if he wants to be singer or an artist or an engineer?" Bani asked, imagining Jai dragging a crying toddler to his office.
"Than we will have to make a many babies…so at least one will want to become me."
"Many…how many?" Bani asked with a shocked face.
"I don't know…but I promise once one of them show any sign of being my clone…we stop making babies." Jai said with a poker face, though all he wanted to do was laugh at the look on Bani's face.
Bani stepped lightly on his toes, "I think you are laughing at me…we are having two and no more. One businessman in this family is enough."
Jai laughed. "Bani…you should have seen your face…it was as if you were taking to some pagal insaan."
Bani rolled her eyes, "You were talking as if you had gone mental for a minute Jai…"
Jai hooking his arms around her neck, stopped laughing, "Ok baba…I was only teasing. I will happy with however many you want. If it is hum do hamare do…that is fine with me."
Bani stifled a yawn and immediately Jai stopped dancing. "I think its about time you got some rest. How stupid of me? It has been a long day for you. Come we will wish everyone good night and retire."
For once Bani did not protest. Her back had been bothering her but she had ignored the nagging sore feeling. But now she wanted to go and sink into the softness of the mattress.
Jai thanked his family for the making the party a success and both of them wished everyone good night and left the hall.
XXXXX
Jai and Bani had just settled in bed when there was a soft knock on the door. Jai stopped Bani, "I will go and see…you stay."
Jai donned his silk robe and opened the door. It was masi, she smiled, "Sorry…jagaye toh nahi nah munna…"
"Nahi masi…aaye andar masi." Masi came inside. She walked up to Bani and kissed her forehead. Masi had tears in her eyes when she gazed at both of them. "Aisi…maan nahi raha…aaj tum dono ko saath dekh kar maan bhar aata hai…kash meri didi aur jiju bhi aaj meri saath hoti…who bhi kitne kuch hote. Bhagwan bas tum dono ko har khushiyaan de." Jai came and hugged masi, not prone to getting emotional, somehow with masi, the feelings always came easily. He too missed his parents, if it were not for masi…he would have been an dysfunctional wreck, And than how could he ever forget that if it had not been for masi…Bani would not be in his life…he would have let her walk away…and led a miserable life.
Masi patted his back, "Chal aap dono rest karo…aur mujhe bhi jaana hai dadi ki paas…nahi toh woh film dekhne baith jayengi."
Bani and Jai both laughed and wished masi good night again.
Jai slipped into bed and snuggled up to Bani. "Bani…"
"hmmm…"
"I love you…"
"I love you too…Jai…"
"Will you still love me in ten years time?" Jai mumbled into her shoulder.
"Ten and many more…till I die…"
Jai arm tightened around her, "Don't ever say that…I don't ever want to alone without you."
Bani lightly caressed his arm, resting on her belly, she did not say anything. There was no telling what fate had in store in the future, but she knew as long they had each other, life would be good.
THE END
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