ok enough with the images of Jai in spandex!! 😆
PART 47
Bani soon started drifting off to sleep in front of the television and jumped awake when the grandfather clock in the hall chimed loudly. Deciding to move up to her bedroom she starts to make her way upstairs when she hears a knock at the door.
Bani: Kaun… kaun hai?
Roshni: Bani? Bani me hoon, Roshni!
Bani is surprised – what was Roshni doing here so late? She opens the door and invites her inside. Roshni enquires as to why the door was locked and where everyone else was.
Bani starts to walk back upstairs inviting Roshni to follow her
Bani: Jigyaasa auntie or sab wedding reception me gaye hai. Unhe aaj der ho jaayegi! Main abhi sone jaa rahi thi, bahut neend aa rahi thi for some reason! Jai bhi abhi abhi bahar chale gaye hai, pata nahin aane me kitni der ho jaaye…
Roshni: Men honestly! Thoda sa bhi intezaar nahin kar paate! Voh tumhe akela chod ke Jatin se milne chala gaya?! Attacker ke baare me jaan ne ki kya jaldi padgayi unko?
Bani, reaching the top of the staircase: Usse pata nahin tha ke sab jaa chuke the, varne vo kabhi mujhe chhod ke jaate hi nahin! Hospital se phone aane ke baad he looked so worried toh mujhe laga it's best if…
… Bani stops still and slowly turns to face Roshni, who eyes her warily…
Roshni: Kya hua Bani, aise kyun dekh rahi ho?
Bani's mouth goes dry and she swallows nervously.
Bani, confused: Maine kab… maine toh nahin kaha tha ke Jai hospital gaya hai…
Roshni's face hardens and she momentarily curses herself for making such a silly mistake.
Bani, quietly: Tumhe kaise pata tha ke Jai Jatin se milne gaya hai… ke Jatin ko usse zaroori baat karni thi uske attacker ke baare me?
Roshni smiled, shaking her head. What did it matter, everything was going to plan anyway…
Roshni: My god Bani… tumhaara yeh Sherlock Holmes streak – you just don't learn do you?
Bani, shocked at the harshness in her voice, confused and getting more and more anxious by the second… she starts to back away from Roshni. The thunder and lightning gets louder and somewhere a window bangs open causing her to jump.
Roshni advances on her until Bani hits the bannister of the staircase.
Bani: Roshni kya kar rahi ho… you're making me nervous…
Roshni: Aww poor Bani! Getting nervous?! Toh kya karoon main… am I going to have to talk you down off another ledge of insecurity…?
Bani: Wh… what do you mean…
Roshni, child-like imitation: "Oh Roshni, main kitni bore ho rahi hoon… oh Roshni, mujhe kabhi kabhi is bachche ke baare me soch kar darr lagta hai… main achchi maa ban paoongi ya nahin… oh Roshni blah blah blah blah!!"
Bani, her eyes filling with tears: Roshni… tum aise kyun bol rahi ho… yeh sab baatein maine tumhe apni dost maan ke kahi thi… mujhe laga tha-
Roshni: Kya laga tha Bani ke main – Roshni Chopra – tum jaise down-market, middle-class ladki se dosti karloongi? Yeh chand mahino ki "dosti" ne mujhe pagal kardiya hai! Tum jaise choti mentality ke log-
Bani: Roshni!
Roshni: AWAAZ NEECHI BANI… tumhe pata nahin tum kispe chillarahi ho!
Bani, defiantly: Tumhaari in baaton se mujhe pata chal chuka hai tum kaisi insaan ho… Jai bilkul theek keh rahe the-
Roshni turns away from Bani, the lightning illuminates through the large windows casting eerie shadows on her face and around the dimly lit hallway.
Roshni: Oh yes! Aapke pyaare patidev! Tumhaare jaise logon ki sangat main voh bhi kitna-
Bani: Stop it!! Tum hoti kaun ho mere pati ke baare main ek shabd bhi bolne waali?!
Roshni, spinning round to face her again: I WAS HIS FIANCE BANI!! Jai MUJHSE pyaar karta tha, MUJHSE shaadi karne waala tha! Toh kya hua, hum thodi der ke liye judaa ho chuke the, tumhe beech me aane ka haq kisne diya tha?!!
Bani's mouth drops open in shock. Everything… everything Roshni had ever said to her… her apologies, her friendship, her gifts, her friendly support… it was all fake…
Bani had fallen for the oldest trick in the book, and her downfall was caused by her own stupid naivety…
Thought i would leave the hair-flicking out this time, had a feeling that one more and you would have tore your own hair out in frustration!! 😆
Let me know what you think guys! 😃
