It Happened One Night (Completed Fan-Fic)

Jai entered the room, his head slightly spinning with the overdose of champagne that Roshni had forced down his throat. The very thought of Roshni, filled Jai's senses with a nausea of disgust and hatred…..what sort of women was he surrounded by, wondered Jai…and just then, he saw Bani standing in front of the large bay window. Jai was surprised, he definitely wasn't expecting Bani here….he had searched for her in the Party, but apparently she was nowhere around and he assumed that she must have been in one of the rooms with Rano or Massi. Jai stood rooted to his place and kept staring at the solitary figure in front of him….how ethereal and beautiful she looked, with the pale, silvery moonlight casting a gentle shadow in the room....How fragile, delicate and vulnerable was Bani….so untouched and so pristine…..Jai suddenly jolted out of his thoughts as Bani turned her head to look at him, her tear-strained face registering surprise and then a deep anguish and pain. Jai and Bani kept looking at one another for some time and suddenly the darkened room seemed to illuminate with some unknown force.

"Kya hua Bani? Tum ro kyon rahi ho?" Jai's voice expressed a deep concern yet a soothing gentleness as he walked towards Bani, who clenched her fists tightly and turned her face from Jai, but could not stop her tears from flowing. "Bani? Bani? Kya hua? Dekho meri taraf…..Bani, main tum se baat kar raha hoon….Batogi nahin mujhe?" Jai was speaking with great alarm and disquiet now as he held Bani gently by her shoulders and turned her towards him, as Bani kept her head bowed down and silently wept. As Bani kept quite, Jai lifted her face by her chin very softly and saw that she was now weeping openly, almost like a child. Jai took Bani's face in the palms of his hand and asked her again, with the same gentle authority, "Kya baat hai Bani? Tumhari tabiyat theek nahin hai? Ya kisi ne kuch kaha tumse? Please batao mujhe, aise ro kyon rahi ho?"

Bani looked at Jai in his eyes and the warm protectiveness and strength in them made Bani lose any sense of control that she possessed till now and she broke down completely as she said between sobs, "Mujhe wapas jaana hai…abhi….mujhe aap se door jaa hai…main nahin reh sakti yahaan….main nahin reh sakti aap ke saat…." Jai was so stunned by what Bani said that he let go of her and with a confused shock kept looking at her for some time, as she racked with sobs. "Tum kahan jaane ki baat kar rahi ho Bani? Aur tum mere saath kyon nahin reh sakti? Hua kya?" Bani kept sobbing as she tried to wipe her face dry but a fresh bout of tears besieged her again and in between sobs she said again, "Main Mount Abu jaana chahti hoon….main aap ke saath nahin rahoongi."

Jai was now really stunned and couldn't in the World fathom what had gone wrong with Bani all of a sudden, he remembered slightly that she looked unwell throughout the party and also a little lost than usual….but what had so happened that made her react in such a manner. As Jai asked Bani in the same gentle but firm tone again, "Theek hai, chali jaana Mount Abu…mat rehna mere saath…magar mujhe bataogi nahin ki kya hua? Bani, meri taraf dekho….."

Jai once again lifted Bani's tearful face towards him as she looked at Jai and the vortex of emotions that had so tortured her for the past few weeks came tumbling down like a cascading waterfall as she replied back, "Aapko Roshni pasand hai. Hai na? Phir main aapki kushi ke beech mein nahin aaongi….Main phir se aapke liye dard ki wajah nahin ban sakti…Main abhi jaa rahi hoon…" As Bani released herself from Jai and started walking ahead, wobbling almost, because of the throbbing headache she had, Jai froze in his spot as he simply could not believe what he had just heard and for sometime Jai just kept staring at nothingness as Bani's words rang through his mind.

"Ruko Bani." Jai's voice was steady and in control now as he held Bani by her arms and holding them with a firm tenderness he stopped Bani and came in front of her and as Bani looked up to Jai, even in her disturbed state, she could see that the man standing in front of her was someone different…someone she had not know previously in person, but only in imagination. Jai's eyes held something else today and before Bani could say or react further, Jai gathered Bani close to him and holding her gently by her waist, planted a passionate yet warm kiss on her forehead. As a stunned, teary eyed Bani kept staring at Jai, her mind in a turmoil and her body as if in a limbo, Jai's eyes seemed to hold a love so deep that it seemed to tear the solitary darkness of their room and radiated every inch of Bani's self. Bani staggered for a while, the drink she had consumed was fogging her head but somehow she knew what had just happened to her was not her dream….no this was for real….the warmth, the caress, the gentle touch on her forehead….it could not be her dream, yet why did everything feel so ethereal…so unreal.

Jai kept holding Bani in his arms, with strength and with gentleness….and then almost as if in a whisper he said, "Tum se kisne kaha ki mein Roshni ko pasand karta hoon?" Bani made no reply as she was held in Jai's arms and looked dazed and overcome by her emotions and then after a moment's silence answered hesitatingly, "Aap Roshni ke saath kamre mein…..maine aapki aawaz suni…aap keh rahe the ki woh theek bol rahi hai…." Bani now sounded unsure of herself, as the fogginess in her head seemed to hit her senses as she placed her hands on Jai's chest as if to balance herself from falling down. Jai let out a faint smile and then as he realized what Bani was saying, his smile widened a little bit more till it almost became a soft laughter and he shaked his head gently and answered back, "Mujhe nahin pata tum nein kya dekha aur kya suna Bani….aur na mein jaan na chahta hoon….."

Bani looked astonished as she kept staring into Jai's deep brown eyes and before she could react further, he came closer and with great tenderness planted a kiss on the nape of Bani's neck and gently shaking her silky hair with his fingers and holding her face close to his own, he closed his eyes as he kissed Bani, with a passion and feeling that he had buried in his heart for the past so many days….it seemed like time froze in an instant and as the tears kept flowing involuntarily from Bani's eyes, Jai kissed off a droplet from her cheeks, as Bani tingled to the core of her self with Jai's mesmerizing touch.

Jai lifted Bani deftly in his arms and without as much as a single word, led her towards their bed…..

Bani did not know what made her fall into Jai's arms with an effortlessness and relief that had previously never existed in their relationship…for Bani it seemed, that this was the most natural progression to their relationship and even in her semi-conscious condition, all Bani could realize was that from now onwards, she never wanted to leave the warmth and protection of Jai's arms, not tonight and not forever…..

The morning sun-light hit Bani's head with a thundering force and as she squinted her eyes and kept her hand over her face to avoid the bright light filtering from the Bay window, a sudden sense of alarm swept Bani as she kept lying in the Bed. Shielding her face from the sunlight, Bani tried to make sense of what had happened and as her senses slowly regained momentum, every moment of the night passed came like a force upon her and jolted her out of her groggy morning sleep. Bani woke up and sat on the bed clutching her head which throbbed with pain and kept wondering if what she had just remembered was her dream or did that really happen. Bani, still in a daze, gazed upon the room and she could not see anything that was out of the ordinary…only the burned remains of some candles could be seen and yes, the faint smell of Jai's cologne filtered through Bani's skin. Bani still clutching her head, supported herself with the rim of the Bed and managed to stand on the floor and walked groggily through the marble flooring to the Washroom and suddenly something pierced her right foot and Bani let out a faint yell as she lifted her leg, only to find one of her earrings which had apparently fallen on the floor. Bani trembled as she lifted the earring in her hand and kept staring at it, her senses still not reconciling with what she was remembering from the past night.

Bani managed to block out whatever images were flashing in front of eyes, still not believing whether it was for real for was it just a dream. Bani freshened up and changed into a fresh set of clothes and shivering to herself opened the door of her room and slowly walked out of her room. Bani thought to herself that everyone would be at the Breakfast Table, she had not checked the clock, but she knew that it was way past her normal wake-up time considering how bright the day looked outside. As Bani held the ceiling of the staircase and willed herself to go down, she could now slowly but surely remember the events of yesterday night as they came in sequential order in her mind…..Bani had reached the end of the staircase by now and she was sure that what had just flashed through her eyes could not be anything but for real. Bani's face went from confusion to one of shock, to one of terror and then to one of acute mortification & awkwardness. Bani suddenly realized the gaggle of voices she heard from the Breakfast Table and thought to herself, "Hey bhagwaan….yeh kya ho gaya…main kaise unhe face karoongi."

Bani stopped right in her tracks and turned to go back when Massi called out, "Bahu….kahan jaa rahi ho? Aao hamare saath nashta nahin karogi?" Bani closed her eyes tightly with the wave of shame and embarrassment sweeping her like nothing before and she slowly turned to the other side, dreading Jai's presence and walked towards the Table. Bani lifted her eyes with great trepidation as she glanced through the table and saw that everyone was assembled, Massi, Dadi, Aditya Uncle, Rano, Saahil, Ranveer and Roshni, who brought that unpleasant thought back into Bani's mind, when she had heard Jai with her in the Hotel Room. "Kya baat hai Bani? Tabiyat theek nahin hai kya? Tum kal raat ko bhi ek dam Party chod kar chali gayi. Hum sab log tumhe aur Jai ko dhoond rahe the. Kahan the tum log?" Aditya looked upto Bani, who reddened to the core of her skin as Aditya took Jai's name, Bani just kept quiet and took her usual place near Jai's seat, which was empty now. "Woh…Mere sar mein dard tha….mein ghar aa gayi….aap log busy the party mein, isi liye kisi ko batane nahin paayi." Bani mumbled an answer as she prayed that her face and body language would not betray all that she was dreading to even think over again.

Roshni who had been unusually quiet till now, kept staring at Bani for some time and as Bani lifted her head and accidentally saw Roshni staring at her, their eyes locked for a moment and something in Roshni's eyes made Bani avoid her face instantly and she again faced her head down and grabbed a cup of Tea, her hands shivering. All of a sudden, Roshni jerked out of her seat, almost violently and as everyone stared at her, Roshni kept staring at Bani, with a look of naked hatred in her eyes which made Bani shiver despite herself and then Roshni stomped out of the room, without as much as an explanation, surprising everyone with her eccentric behavior. "Pata nahin yeh Munna ne Roshni ko is ghar mein rehne ki ijaazat kyon di hai? Bahu, tu kuch kehti kyon nahin hai Jai se? Aur waise woh hai kahan, subah se dikh nahi raha?" Massi asked Bani, helping herself to a piece of toast, Bani could barely balance her cup of Tea, which kept shaking in her hand and she said with a barely perceptible voice, "Woh…pata nahin…maine bhi nahin dekha unko…."

Bani wondered where Jai was, she wanted to see him once, talk to him and get an assurance that whatever happened was right, it happened because it was meant to be, yet, the last thing Bani wanted was to face Jai.

"Excuse me Madam, Jai Sir ne aapko apne Study mein bulaya hai." Tony came in announcing, as Bani looked up to him with shock registering in her eyes and she mumbled, "Mujhe?" Tony looked confused as he repeated, "Yes Madam, unhone subah kaha tha ki aap jab uth jaayengi, toh unse Study mein jaa kar mile. Jai Sir subah 7 baje se hai wahan." Bani felt nauseous at the thought of even standing in front of Jai but considering she had no other option, she got up slowly and excused herself to walk towards Jai' study in the first floor section of the house. "Arre Bahu, Jai ne subah se chai bhi nahi pi hai shayad." Interrupted Massi, as she handed over the Tea Tray to Bani, who barely managed to stand still and took the Tray from Massi and walked upstairs.

Bani stood in front of Jai's Study, with the Tray in her hand, and suddenly she remembered the warm touch of Jai's lips on her and taking a gulp, Bani lifted her hand to knock on the door and after a moment's hesitation, tapped gently on it. "Come in Bani." boomed Jai's voice from inside and clutching the Tray tightly, Bani closed her eyes, took a deep breath and then trying to relax herself with futility, opened the door and stepped inside gingerly, deliberately facing her eyes downwards. "Ab tabiyat kaisi hai?" Jai's voice was soothing and very matter-of-fact, taking Bani by surprise as she placed the Tea Tray on one of the Coffee Tables, still not looking at Jai's face, as much as she desperately wanted to look at Jai, just once. "Theek hai….sar mein thoda dard hai." The words barely coming out of Bani's mouth. "Aap ne mujhe bulaya tha?" said Bani as she slowly lifted her face to see Jai, who much to her relief yet dismay was not even looking at her, but was sifting through some books on the shelf and looked very pre-occupied. "Hmmm, actually woh mere lawyer Mr. Bhargav aaye the, kuch papers de kar gaye hai, tumahre signatures chahiye un par, aaj hi Court mein file karne hain." The words hit Bani like a thunderstorm as she caught her breath and kept staring at Jai, who had still not looked back at her and was extremely busy sifting through his papers. "Kya?" Bani could only manage a bare whisper, as she realized her eyes welling up with tears. "Papers wahan pade hai, mere Laptop ke paas…..first and last page par sign kardo and unhein yahin chod jaao, mein Office jaate hue le jaaonga. Tum kuch medicine le lo and take rest."

Jai turned to look at Bani for the first time as he finished his sentenced and their eyes locked with each other, as Jai's face registered surprise and confusion and Bani's looked anguished and heartbroken. Bani who had been standing still for sometime, broke down unabashedly as Jai looked at her with a complete stunned look as she wept openly. Jai put the papers in his hand on the desk and came towards Bani, holding her gently by her shoulders and with deep concern and confusion asked her, "Kya hua? Tum ro kyon rahi ho? Bani? Tabiyat bahut kharab hai kya? Doctor Shah ko phone karoon? Bani? Say something." Jai shaked Bani by her shoulders as she racked with sobs and with a desperate shrug she shrugged off from Jai's hands and turned towards the table where the legal documents were lying and without as much as a word, she went ahead and tore open the envelop, and took a pen and signed on the first and last page, without as much as a glance at what was written on the legal document.

Bani kept the pen back and wiping off her face, turned to leave the room, only to be held by Jai powerfully yet with that exceedingly tender touch which had so taken Bani by her senses yesterday. "Please mujhe chodiye Mr. Walia…..aapko jin papers par mere signatures chahiye the, woh maine kar diye hain…Roshni aapko dhoond rahi hogi." Bani was surprised by the bitterness and anguish in her voice as Jai took Bani in his arms and gathering her close to him looked at her with amusement writ large on his face, "Roshni ko dhoondne do….Main ab use nahin milne waala…magar yeh main Jai se Mr. Walia phir dobara kaise ho gaya?" Jai said in a teasing tone as Bani blushed despite her bruised state of mind, as she remembered something from yesterday night and she tried to let go of herself from Jai, who was now firmly holding on to Bani by encircling his arms around her waist.

Bani managed to look at Jai who was partly smiling now and sort of looking questioningly at her and they kept looking at one another, till a slightly bewildered Bani mumbled, "Aapne mujhse kaun se papers sign kar vaaye hain?" Jai gave a saradonic smile and said, "Yeh toh tum hain sign karne se pehle pooch lena chaihiye tha. Khud dekh lo." Said Jai as he released her from the stronghold of his arms and picked up the papers for her and handed them to Bani who hesitatingly glanced over them only to be shocked into silence for sometime. Bani kept reading the title of the deed which had the name and address of her home in Mount Abu and as she glanced through the first page, Bani realized that the document contained transfer deed of the property in Mount Abu from Jai's name to Bani's name along with Pia and Rano.

Suddenly feeling like a utter fool and extremely embarrassed, Bani kept the papers back on the Table and mumbled a sort of faint apology and thank you, not able to look back at Jai, whom she was sure was laughing softly at Bani's awkwardness. "Mere liye Chai nahin banogi? The usual….half a teaspoon sugar and keep it strong." All Bani wanted was to run out of the room and hide her face somewhere, anywhere away from Jai, yet all she wanted was to once again fall in the circumference of Jai's arms and be swept off him. Bani quietly went near the Coffee Table and as she was about to bend down to prepare Tea for Jai, when he came from behind and slipped his arms through Bani's waist and turned her gently towards him and lifted her face by her chin to face his and smiling quietly said, "Maine Mr. Bhargav se keh kar divorce petition quash karva diya hai…Hopefully I have done the right thing?"

Jai kept looking at Bani, who was turning into every possible shade of crimson as Jai came close to Bani and planted a gentle kiss on Bani's forehead, making her skin tingle with the warm sensation of his touch. Bani kept quiet, unable to move or say anything as Jai kept holding Bani close to him and after a moment's silence said, "Bani…..pata nahin tum kitna yakeen karogi meri baat par….magar jo maine tumhare liye mehsoos kiya hai, woh kabhi kisi aur ke liye nahin kiya….jo jazbaat tum nein mere andar jagaye hai, woh pehle kabhi nahin the….mujhe nahin pata mere saath kya ho raha hai…..magar kal raat ke baad, shayad ab kuch sochne ke liye nahin hai…..Tum hi woh pyaar ho jiski talash mujhe thi…..pata nahin mujhe itna waqt kyon laga…..tum samajh rahi ho na mein tum se kya kehna chahta hoon, Bani? Do you believe me?" Jai looked at Bani with trepidation and hope and as she kept looking into his honest and loving eyes, she whispered ever so softly, "Every word Jai, I believe in every word that you just said."

Jai smiled softly as he took Bani closer to him, kissing her softly on her lips as Bani fought with her overwhelming shyness and pleasure and she reciprocated his gesture with the same passion and intensity…..

Epilogue : The Park Road incident turned out to be nothing but the fact that the Walia and Chobra's had opened a Dahi Vada Shop there, before Jai made his million in the Hotel Business, but due to Roshni and Ranvijay's stupidity, their business made losse's and Jai had to face the humiliation of a business failure….But afterwards Jai used his own brains and hard work to erect a multi-million Hotel business spread over all the World, but had to constantly live under the threat that he had once been nothing more than a Dahi-Vada Shop co-owner with those Losers of a Chopra's. Bani forgave Jai his one mistake of doing business with the Chopra's and make him promise that he would never eat Dahi Vada's in his life-time again, as a mark of loyalty to Bani!