PART 7 Rano's bedroom:
Rano was watching her mehndi gently dry as she stood by the window and thought how she was going to survive tomorrow. Sahil was going to get married and she would be watching. Someone came up behind her, and she knew that it was Sahil. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her. "Rano, everything will work out tomorrow. You have to trust me. You know how much I love you and I can't live without you. Please don't worry," Sahil whispered in Rano's ear. Rano nodded and turned around and said; "Sahil I trust you completely. I know that you will fix everything." They both stayed in each others arms, just enjoying the feel of each others heart beats. "Come on Rano, show me your hands and let me find my name in your mehndi," Sahil cajoled Rano. Surprised Rano looked up "how did you know I had your name written in my mehndi?" she asked.
"Rano, I love you, I know you, did you think that I wouldn't know that you hadn't gotten my name written in your mehndi?" Sahil said smiling down at her. Smiling back Rano held out her hands for Sahil to inspect. He got busy searching for his name. The design was so intricate that he was having a difficult time, but finally, finally his eyes zeroed in on his name. "Found it," he said smugly. "Now give me my kiss Rano," Sahil said mischievously.
"Sahil, no, no," Rano said getting embarrassed.
"Rano, no fair. You heard what Massi said to Bani Mami, you have to give me a kiss," Sahil said sulkily. Rano leaned in and gently placed a kiss on his cheek, and than his other cheek. "Now go Sahil, before someone sees you in here," Rano said. Sahil left, but not before giving Rano a kiss on the cheek.
Jai & Bani's Bedroom. Bani sat at her dressing table struggling to take off her jewelry with her mehndi covered hands. It was a futile attempt and she couldn't even call Rano to help her because she too had mehndi on her hands. Mr. Walia was still in the bathroom, so she couldn't even wash her mehndi off. She mad another attempt to take off her earrings, but it was useless.
Jai came out of the bathroom, to find Bani struggling to take off her jewelry. Her hands were covered in mehndi, making the task much more difficult than it should have been. Still looking at her, he went over to help. He didn't know why he kept putting himself and Bani through this torture, but all he knew was that when he was near Bani he felt alive, like he had never felt before. He gently pulled her hands away, and took off her necklace, than came her earrings and than her tika. He than began pulling the pins out of Bani's hair, slowly watching as strands of her silky hair began to fall down over her shoulders. He than picked up one of her hands and carefully took off her choodiyan, making sure not to ruin her mehndi. When he was done with one hand, he picked up the other and began taking her choodiyan off. All the while, he was watching her in the mirror. Their eyes were connected as they both watched as he took off her jewelry. When he was done, he pushed her away, and pulled her dori open. He couldn't help himself and he placed a kiss on the back of her neck.
Bani's breath stuttered out of her and she closed her eyes.
Not again she thought.
I can't keep doing this. Going through all this torture. Shivers were running up and down her spine. All of a sudden, she jumped up and started babbling; "Mr. Walia it's really late we should go to sleep. We have a lot to do tomorrow. Good night." She got into her side of the bed and flicked the light switch off, forgetting that she needed to change her clothes, or that she needed to wash her mehndi off.
Jai stood bewildered for a moment at the sudden turn of events. He was a bit confused and angry at himself.
Why couldn't he keep his hands off Bani? Why did he crave to touch her whenever he saw her? He was so confused. I climbed into his side of the bed and flicked the light off.
Edited by chickster - 19 years ago
Anupamaa
