PART 15 B
Wat Phra Kaeo situated in the Grand palace premises housed the most spectacular statue of emerald Buddha Bani had ever seen in her life. she had not stepped out of the India before nor had she travelled much within. This surely was a visual treat for her. The temple containing three main buildings ....... first containing the relics of Buddha, then the library and the Royal Mondop where statues of deceased kings of the Chakri Dynasty were kept.From there they went on to see the Wat Suthat temple which took a whopping 27 years to build and housed some rare murals from the Charki Dynatsy. Bani could have never imagined ever visiting Thailand all by herself. Firstly I cant afford it she thinks and who wud she have come with? 😳
From there they headed to Vimanmek Palace Museum which happens to be the world's largest golden teak building. Bani's curiosity as piqued by just about everything they say especially after noticing that her hubby was barely enjoying the whole thing. 😉 They ended the sight seeing for the day at Anandasmakhom Palace where Thai kings held their parliamentary meetings.JW had also bought her a light lunch at a very expensive Thai restaurant as promised.
They were waiting to take their boat ride on the Chao Phraya River, often quoted as the "Venice of the East"..All through the trip JW was at his polite and patient best. He didnt care much about thai history, he was there because hsi wife wanted to be there. B enjoys every bit of it, does not compalin even once, ready to walk miles, stand for hours in line behind tourists at packed attractions and took her own sweet time to read every board and every little piece of information about the place or an artefact driving him insane. 😆 The weather was not on his side either today. His shirt folded to his elbows and a couple of extra buttons undone on his shirt exposing part of his chest, his sun glasses on his head 😳 ........ Much to her chagrin he had opened her purse and helped himself to the Kleenex she had in there many times to wipe off hsi sweat......The weather was a muggy 90F, no signs of the thunderstorms anywhere, uncaps his water bottle and pours some on his face, relishes the feel, swears under hsi breath at the heat and catching her unawares pours the rest on her!!
B(busy concentrating trying to read a board that gave the detials about some potters village on the route) Mr Walia!!! Kya kar rahe hain aap?
JW: Chill Bani (laughs) 😆
B: tee's all wet with the freezing water, his eyes dont miss every curve being accentuated 😉 rubbing it off trying to distract him" Mujhe peena tha paani, aapne saara mere oopar gira diya"
JW:Relax Bani! I 'll go get some more. Bfore that, Bani plz lagta hai ek ghanta wait karna padega line mein, chalo yahan se chalte hain (standing close, bringing his arms around her waist, swaying sideways almost like dancing in the same spot and begging into her head 😳 )
B refuses to look into his eyes, but realizes that what is on display in front of her eyes is way more tantalizing, closes her eyes shut, looks up at hsi eyes defeated....... "I want to wait"
JW bringing her closer, playing with her sunglasees also on top of her head" I promise we'll come early tomorrow, chalo yahan se"
B: Aapko apne biz ke alawa kizi cheez mein bhi intrest nahi hai (frustrated and sulking, shoulders sagging)
JW: Hai na! (She looks up again)
B: No dont tell me! I know (blushes tho trying to sulk)
JW I was going to say golf (winks) 😉
She hits him with her bag in his waist and walks off from the line in a huff. He almost sprints to catch up with her rubbing his waist, coz he was laughing too much
Catches up with her, arm around her waist "Thank you thank you"
B: Kal subah mujhe exactly 8 Am yahan aana hai (sternly)
JW: Yes Maam! ( agreably)
JW Lekin tum subah to 10 baje uthti ho na? (chuckling)
B: Theek hai mujhe kuch nahi dekhna, chalo Bombay ghar waapis chalte hain (tearful, first but freezes when she realizes what she has just said).
JW Kiske ghar? (looking at her intensely)
B: Mere ghar! (a slow smile spreads his face, coz he deliberately misunderstands her "mere ghar" to be Walia Mansion)
B: Mr walia please aapko kahan jaana hai ab?
JW You want to go see our resort? (all enthu and chirpy suddenly)
B: Its yours I dont want to see it (turns away her face as she suddenly realizes the circumstances under which she has been brought to Bk)
J and B just stand there in quiet silence.
JW:Theek hai main next month Sanjana ke ssath Bk aa raha hoon, I can take her then (flatly)
B: Great! Hope she loves it, I am sure she WILL (suddenly her ballloon pops!)
B: Tab tak main apne apartment mein chali jaoongi. So I dont care.
JW:We'll see! (grimly)
The driver shows up,
B feels suddenly bereft. Its like she lost something. teh mood until a few minutes ago is all gone now. He has his head resting on the backrest and is trying to take a nap. She looks at his face, she had given herself to Jai and her marriage, it was without reservation, wholeheartedly infact, without expecting that her love be reciprocated. She was haunted by the fear that JW was waiting for her to capitulate to activate another subtle pending plan of revenge he had in mind. But when JW was in bed with her, these thoughts were the farthest from her mind as he gave her no room or energy to doubt his intentions. But when wide awake, the danger seemed real.
B: Mr Walia mujhe Suriwong jaana hai, Pia ke liye kuch khareedna hai, aur Rano ke liye bhi Wahan gemstones achhe milte hain, I want to buy some jade if its not too expensive.
JW still eyes closed pretending to sleep.
B brings her hand and touches his chest, on top of his heart "Aap so gaye?" (she peers close to check his face)
JW grabs her hand, pulls her toward him self "Bani why do you make me SO angry?" (softly)
Trying to steady herself and sit up straight.......
B: I am sorry.......... par main resort dekhkar kya karoongi. I work with the Darjeeling and shimla hotels.
JW realizes she is pretending to make it all about biz!
JW(softly, impatient) Thsi si exactly what i am talking about. So stop!!
B Let me go! Mr Walia
JW still holding on to her hand runs his other hand thru his hair, softly swearing under his breath "One of these days Bani.......... we have to talk!" (bluntly)
Jw pulls the curtain down on his face, suddenly becoming all iunscrutable........
Looks down at his struggling wife
B: Mr Walia please!
JW:Did u know u always call me Jai at nite? (thick)
B: (incredulous) Kya? (realizes what he just said, color scorches her face). No I dont...
JW Want to bet? (grins)
JW: Its like your endearment for me! I love it Baneee (softly)
She yanks her hand out of his grip, is successful, ofcourse becoz he let her go!
Car reaches The Silom/Sukhomwit area, she tirelessly walks up and down again to find the right gifts for her sisters. He is just there physically, no intrest what so ever in what she is buying. She decides to try out a jade necklace set in gold with jade earrings. She wears it and turns around almost like asking him how he liked it. As if on cue, he looks up from a magazine he is reading, their eyes lock and she is not able to ask turns away but can see him watching her through the mirrors in front of her.
He puts the book away gets up walks up to her, pushes her hair back gently and feels the earring with his left hand.......... a pleasure tingle registers his touch in her brain and her heart starts the welcome drum roll.
B: I was just trying it on. I dont have any green saree.
JW is already talking with the store clerk to buy at the price she has quoted. She pushes past him and starts arguing with her. JW has already given her his credit card.
B(mad) Mr Walia I dont want it! Achha theek hai main Anu ya Jigayasa aunty ko de doongi... (turns away in a huff)
JW: We have to buy you some green sarees (completely ignoring her tantrum)
She selects what she wants to buy for Pia and rano and he wants it to be put on his acrd again, she almost screams and shoves him away "Meri behano ke liye aapko khareedne ki koi zaroorat nahi. I will pay Mr Walia!" She almost throws her card at the clerk
He can see that she has gone back into her shell again.
Decides not to argue at the store, lets her pay,they take their stuff they both head out.
The drivers goes to Empriuom Shopping Center in the Sukhumvit area and parks. The place looks really exclusive and grand. Bani is reading to pitch her next tantrum.
B: Maine le liya mujhe ab hotel jaana hai.
JW: Its not for you Bani (cool and short)
B is a lil peeved but does not respond
She manages to be in his vicinity tho yards away haughtily follows him, upset and angry. He walks into the Cartier store. Starts looking at watches for women The really grand pricey kind in gold. Bani tries to be disinterested but gives up and has to try some one, she does.........He is watching her from the corner of his eyes. She picks a exquisitely beautiful Lanieres rectangular watch wears and admires her wrist. She slowly takes it off and places it back on the velvet display tray. Steps back and starts casually looking at other stuff on display.
He is done in a few minutes carrying the small paper bag with the logo on it. Must have been gift wrapped, she thinks. May be its for Vivian? Or Sanjana? Or Jigyasa Aunty.
Ride back to the hotel in silence. Take the elevator to their room.
JW is tired, slumps on the couch she walks over to her room, does not notice her missing luggage is in his room, gets his old worn out fave tee (that she had stolen from him on Sun nite) showers, and wears it pairing it with an old pair of capris she has. Walks to the bed, falls on it, lays there for she doesnt know how long.......... until she feels someone touching her hand, opens her eyes startled, hubby is strapping that watch on her hand. The one she had been admiring!!! All showered and shaved (;-) wearing an old pair of jeans and a white Polo t-shirt looked fresh and dangerous. His cologne shud have warned me! May be my senses welcome it so much that they have quit warning me? she worries.
She doesnt say a word, moves her hand away, just looks at him and gets up and leans back on the bed, propped up against the huge pillows. He sits in front
JW: How do u like it (Smiling)
B goes to remove it.
JW:Baneee! (warns)
B:Mujhe kyon pehnaya? Jiska hai usko deejiye na aap? (upset not to let her tears show)
JW: I just gave it to her! (husky)
B: I dont want it. Mujhe aapka kuch bhi nahi chahiye.
JW Kuch bhi? Are u sure? (she can hear the amusement in his voice)
B: I am tired..............thanks for trying it on me, but u can give it to who u bought it for............ (sad)
JW Look at me......... why do we fight so much Baneee?
B:I dont... u do (trying to fight tears)
JW:Tumne mujhe pay nahi karne diya Pia Rano ke gifts ke liye. U refused to go see our new resort. Is that fair?
B: I dont want to get involved with you........... mujhe aapka kuch nahi chahiye. I already owe you a lot of money
His face tightens and eyes hardens and his warmth is gone........
JW I dont want to talk about it Baneee right now. This is for you. I saw you were wearing a silver watch at Priya's engagement party. Jab tumhara hero tumhe road pe chhodkar chala gaya tha (a caring statement laced with a taunt) so I thot I wud gift u a gold one when I got the opportunity. What better place than Cartier to buy it?
B: Its yours I dont want it! (upset even more by the taunt, but ignoring it)
JW Lets go to bed....... (urges her to get up...... thickly) He wants to unsettle me, he has the devious ability to destroy my defences she thinks. He kept throwing her offbalance by working on her feelings and systematically destroying her defences........ and then offering a pretence of sympathy................
B: No! Aap apne kamre mein so jaayie.....
She cud see JW is on the edge of his patience. He wants something so badly that it took every ounce of his already low control. ......... and that person is ME!
JW OK then main bhi yahin so jaata hoon. Gets up goes over to the other side, first switches off the bedside lamp, and then the TV and sprawls on his side of the bed
B: I am not sleeping in your bed. Why are u sleeping in mine. (goes to push him off it)
JW (coolly, turning to hsi side facing her, head held in his hand anchored on left elbow) so do u like your new watch?
B(tired and defeated) Ya its beautiful........... but u have to go back to your room.................(shaky)
JW:I think its very baeutiful....... (looks at her, she senses warm heat envelop her body, but does not look at him)
JW bending down towards her face "Banee now that we are sorting out what yours and whats mine................. can I have my t-shirt back". 😳 😳 😳 Before she can escape, pins her down and brings his lips down on hers with a groan............
Arjun
Cricket
