PART 9:
Jai walked upto where bani was standing doing arti....he couldn't believe it..God had brought him to her....he felt relieved...but tension was also there...he was tense as to what Bani would say to him...would she return home with him.....
....
Bani turned around when she felt Jai's presence behind her...she must be dreaming....but was she?...was this God's answer to her questions...to her prayers....How could she face him...her eyes still reflected her pain...she didn't want Jai to know...
...
Jai scanned her face as soon as she had turned to face him...he knew she had removed the manglesutra...but the sindoor as well....she looked like she first did when she arrived in this town...at his house...in his life....Yet so much had changed....her eyes spoke volumes of the anguish and pain she was sufferring...he couldn't bare to look into them....
He took bani's elbow and silently pulled her to oneside where they could be ensured of privacy...
"Aa...aa..aap Yaha?"
"Yeh mujhe tumse pooch na chaye?...Kyun chora tumne woh ghar?"
"Mr Walia...yeh aap...achi tarah se...woh aap ka vishvas...phir pehle Pia ne dhoka...Rano..bhi" the tears just began to pour out of her eyes..she struggled to try and get them in control....but the sheer exhaustion prevented her....
"Bani...woh main gusse mein...tum sahi kehti ho...tum per mujhe bahrosa...main tumhe sab kuch batana chaata hoon...lehkin mujhe tohra waqt....please bani....just a little while..."
"Why Mr Walia?....kounsa waqt? aap teekh kehte hai...humara rishta to chand dinno ka tha...toh phir kyun batayege aap mujse..."
"Nahin bani....don't say..."
"Kya Mr Walia?...Humara Divorce to..."
"No Bani...mujhe divorce nahin...yeh to tum oos din...pia ke saath phone per..."
"Maine?...Pia ke saath...?"
"H..haan...jab tum oose pyar ke bare mein baathe kari thi..."
"aap ne gahlat sochiya tha Mr Walia...woh main Pia aur Pushkar ki baath kar rahi thi....chorro Mr Walia...ab in sab baathon ka kya matlab....humara rishta toh kahtam..."
"Nahin Bani...aise mat kaho....main tumhe ghar le jaane ke liye aaya hoon...waha..."
"Kounsa ghar Mr Walia?....Woh ghar ghar nahin hai...woh to khali ek makhaan hai...waha per pyar karne ke liye bhi ijazat nahin hai...nahi kisi.."
"Tum teekh kehti ho bani...woh ek makhaan tha....lekin tumne oose ghar banaya hai....tumne un sab ko alag alag logon ko parivaar mein banaya hai...please bani...come back...that house needs you...that family needs you....i need you..."
Bani looked at him...his eyes were full of tears like hers...she was beginning to get tempted...but no...this would only be temporary...then they would again blame me and insult me....
"Mr Walia...main aap ke saath nahin..."
"Please Bani...."
"Aur waise bhi....kis rishte se waha jaongi...humari beech mein to rishta....aur ab...Mr Walia yeh aap?"
Bani couldn't finish what she was saying...Jai had grabbed her by the arm and was pulling her along with him towards the front of the Mandir....
When he reached the front he pulled Bani round to face him....the congregation stopped singing their hyms and watched what was happening...
Jai bent down and took a pinch of the sindoor that was in the pooja thali and put it Bani's maang...then he took the manglesutra from his pocket and tied it around her neck...
"Tum is rishte se waapas ghar jayegi...tum meri biwi ho bani...aur yeh sab log jo yaha mojooth hai...yeh sab gava hai is baath ke..."
Bani just looked at Jai stunned...she couldn't believe what he had done...and why...he hadn't said he was in love with her....but he hadn't said that he wasn't...why would someone who had wanted a divorce....wanted to be separated from her...marry her like this?....marry her again...this time willingly...maybe he was.....or had some feelings....she would go with him...she would take this risk....because the risk that she walks away and Jai really is her true love....was far greater.....
Edited by tbabhra - 19 years ago