PART 3
Jai enters the room, Bani turns. She closes her suitcase and lifts it off the bed, tears threatening to disclose her state of despair, their eyes meet and Jai immediately looks at the floor.
J: Mein jaanta hu ke mere lakh taano ke baad mujhe tumhe rokne ka koi haq nahin, phir bhi me ke raha hoon Bani, mat jao.
He looks up at her, and Bani is shocked to see tears in his eyes.
Without saying another word his eyes plead her to forgive him, but he knows that asking for forgiveness would be an insult, after everything he has said to her.
J: Bani, me….. me kaise…..
B: Kuch kehne ki zaroorat nahin hai Mr Walia. Mujhe aapse kuch nahin chahiye, na maafi, na humdardi kuch nahin. Me jaanti thi ke jo insaan 3 anjaani ladkiyon ko apni ghar me panah de sakta hai vo dil se bura nahin ho sakta. Aap ne jo kuch bhi in dino mujhse kaha maine kabhi uska bura nahin maana, kyunke me jaanti thi ke aap ka yeh gussa sirf aapka dard chupa raha tha. Aap ko laga ke maine bhi aapko dhokha diya hai, P….
She stops herself from saying the name that would cause Mr Walia even more pain
B: …. Auro ki tarha. Lekin yakeen maniye, mein sirf aapki khushi chahati hoon, aur hamesha chahoongi. Aap ko kabhi dard pohchaane ka mera iraada nahin tha. Again, agar humse koi ghalati hui ho to hume maaf kardijiyega……… Chalti hoon.
Jai looks up in shock and opens his mouth to argue with her, and then remembers her words, likening her time here to a "saza". He thinks to himself, "what right have I to stop her, have I ever given her any happiness? Any reason to want to be here?
She begins to walk towards him and he stands there paralysed in despair, wanting to, but completely unable to take the bag from her and make her stay. Suddenly she trips and Jai rushes fowad to catch her in his arms. We hear the flute play, bringing in the song "tujhe dekh dekh sona", as she looks up into his tearful eyes and he stares back at her.
She goes to break away from him and finds that her mangalsutra is caught in the button of his jacket. Taking it as a sign she slowly takes it off and we flashback to their wedding, the phere etc…
She hands it to Mr Walia, tears running down her cheeks.
B: Yeh lijiye aapki amaanat Mr Walia. Iss par ussi ka haq hai jiske saath aap puri zindagi khush reh sake. Maine divorce papers sign karke aap ki dressing table par rakh diya hai.
She walks past him and stops. We see them back to back, both crying, both unable to admit to each other why. Jai cannot face her and just stares unmovingly at the mangalsutra in his hand.
Bani, with her back still to him, wipes her tears and says in a falsely cheerful voice:
B: Isse pehele ke mein bhuljaoo Mr Walia, aapka nightgown hamesha ki tarha aapke cupboard me hai. Aapke white shirts, right side pe, or baaki sab left side pe. Aapki ghadi, pen aur mobile phone dressing table ke left drawer me hai. Maine Tony ko sab kuch bataadiya he, kuch chaahiye to usse poochlijiyega. Apne medicines lena mat bhuliyega, aur ha, time pe……
She stops, realising that she is no longer his wife, and so it is no longer her place to remind him of these things. She chokes back her sobs and walks from the room as Jai turns, tears falling down his face, his hand outstretched to stop her….. "Bani…" he whispers, as the door closes between them and the song plays in the back ground from Kalyug "Judaa ho ke bhi, tu mujhme kahi baaki hai…. Palko me banke aasu, tu chali aati hai……"
Please let me know what you think, hope you find it readable!! 😉